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Outbreak & Testing| Stool Collection Kit Locations| Reports| Resources & Contact| Frequently Asked Questions| Resources for Health Professionals | Facts about E. Coli & Public Health Inspections
Last Updated: August 5, 2025
Alberta Health Services (AHS) has identified a gastrointestinal outbreak at the food facility within the Saskatoon Farm located at #20 80181 338 Ave E, Foothills County, AB. Based on current testing, the outbreak is presumed to be E. coli and amoebiasis. Read the full health advisory.
If you visited the farm, and consumed food, beverages, or water at the facility between July 1-18 please follow the appropriate guidance:
If you have experienced nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain, it is recommended you call Health Link at 811 for assessment and testing or see your primary care provider.
If you do not have symptoms, we recommend you call Health Link at 811 for amoebiasis screening, pick up an asymptomatic testing kit from the APL Provincial Laboratory (3030 Hospital Drive NW) or one of the other sites listed below, or see your primary care provider.
If you have been referred for asymptomatic screening, when you arrive at the APL Provincial Laboratory (3030 Hospital Drive NW) located at Foothills Medical Centre, proceed through the front doors to our Specimen Receiving area.
A cart containing collection kits will be placed outside our Specimen Receiving window. The cart contains kits for asymptomatic patients.
For more information on contact details and hours of operation, visit Public Health Laboratory (ProvLab).
If you were told by Health Link or a physician to get tested you can pick up a stool kit from your primary care provider, or the nearest lab collection site listed below. Kit pick-up and drop off does not require an appointment and can be done during regular lab hours.
| Facility | Location | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Calgary - Foothills Medical Centre | 3030 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB | |
| Diamond Valley - Oilfields General Hospital | 717 Government Road Diamond Valley, AB |
Mon-Fri: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| High River Hospital Laboratory | 560 9th Avenue SW High River, AB |
Mon-Fri: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Okotoks Patient Service Centre | 201-200 Southridge Drive Okotoks, AB |
Mon-Fri: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Okotoks Health and Wellness Centre Laboratory | 11 Cimarron Common Okotoks AB |
Mon-Fri: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Nanton Health Unit Laboratory | 2214 20th Street Nanton AB |
Mon-Fri: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed daily 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. |
Where to Drop Off a Completed Lab Test
Stool kits can be dropped off at any Alberta Precision Lab (APL) collection site/patient service centre during office hours. No appointment is necessary. Locations can be found at the bottom of the APL Book an Appointment webpage.AHS publicly discloses all Public Health Inspection Reports.
Please note, we are currently experiencing high request volumes.
I have a requisition form from my primary care provider - where do I pick up an asymptomatic testing kit?
If you have a requisition from your primary care provider, you can also pick up a stool testing kit from your primary care provider, or the nearest lab collection site which can be found at the bottom of the APL Book an Appointment webpage.
How do I get the test results for my stool tests if I picked up an asymptomatic testing kit?
Please be patient as we work to confirm results and contact all individuals. If you picked up a screening kit from the APL Provincial Laboratory or another site listed on this page, and are waiting for your results, you will receive a call from Health Link within 10 days. You can also go to MyHealth Records to view your results online.
How do I get the results for my stool tests if I am symptomatic?
If you are symptomatic and test positive, your primary care provider or Health Link will follow up with you as soon as your results are confirmed.
What if I test positive but cannot afford the treatment? Are there funding options to assist?
Please visit the Alberta Health website to review options for financial assistance.
Where can I find my test results?
If you have picked up a screening kit from the APL Provincial Laboratory and are waiting for your results, you will receive a call from the APL Provincial Laboratory within 10 days. You can also go to MyHealth Records to view your results online.
What if I test negative? Is there anything additional I need to do?
People who are infected with E. histolytica usually experience no symptoms at all or only very mild gastrointestinal symptoms. Uncommonly, people may only test positive and develop symptoms months to years after they are exposed. The symptoms can be quite broad and rarely can cause severe illness. The condition is treatable even when it starts years after the exposure. We would recommend that you mention this exposure to your physician, so they are aware of your exposure.
What if I don’t live in Calgary – what should I do?
If you live outside Calgary and visited the Saskatoon Farm between July 1 – 18, if you have experienced nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain, it is recommended you see your primary care provider for amoebiasis screening.
If you do not have symptoms, we recommend you call Health Link at 811 for amoebiasis screening, pick up an asymptomatic testing kit from the APL Provincial Laboratory (3030 Hospital Drive NW) or one of the other sites listed, or see your primary care provider.
What if I can’t get to the APL Provincial Lab to get a stool collection kit?
If you have experienced nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain, it is recommended you call Health Link at 811 for assessment and testing or see your primary care provider.
If you do not have symptoms, we recommend you call Health Link at 811 for amoebiasis screening, pick up an asymptomatic testing kit from the APL Provincial Laboratory (3030 Hospital Drive NW) or one of the other sites listed, or see your primary care provider.
Why are testing kits only for asymptomatic patients?
At this time, we are only testing asymptomatic patients to ensure they have been screened for amoebiasis. Anyone experiencing symptoms should call Health Link at 811, or their primary care provider for guidance.
What do I do if I had symptoms but now feel better. Do I still need to get tested?
If you do not have symptoms, we recommend you call Health Link at 811 for amoebiasis screening, pick up an asymptomatic testing kit from the APL Provincial Laboratory (3030 Hospital Drive NW) or one of the other sites listed, or see your primary care provider.
Is this the same E. coli we’ve seen in recent outbreaks such as daycares?
No. This is what’s known as a Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli or EIEC which is different from Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC - what we’ve dealt with in some outbreaks.
They are both pathogenic strains of E. coli, but they differ in their mechanisms of causing disease.
EIEC causes a dysentery-like illness by invading and multiplying within cells of the colon, while STEC produces Shiga toxins that damage cells, particularly in the kidneys, which may lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
EIEC does not produce toxins and typically resolves itself without any treatment.
What is Amoebiasis and should people who may have been exposed to it be worried?
Amoebiasis is caused by a parasite called Entamoeba histolytica. Often there are no symptoms associated with the parasite, but it can cause gastrointestinal illness and, in rare cases, more severe infection.
Amoebiasis may not result in immediate symptoms, but it can lead to serious illness. This is why we are being extra cautious and recommending those who consumed any food, beverages or water at the facility between July 1 and July 18 call Health Link at 811 to arrange for screening.
Uncommonly, people may only test positive and develop symptoms months to years after they are exposed. The symptoms can be quite broad and rarely can cause severe illness. The condition is treatable even when it starts years after the exposure. We would recommend that you mention this exposure to your physician, so they are aware of your exposure.
Typically, a course of medication is the first line of treatment, but our infectious disease team is providing expertise on treatment pathways should people require care.
Have you been able to identify the cause of the outbreak? If not, when will you know?
Based on the ongoing investigation, it is believed the facility’s water system is the likely source of the outbreak. We can’t be certain because the system in question had been dug up before we were able to get samples.
Saskatoon Farms has switched to a different water source that has been assessed and confirmed safe by lab testing and AHS Environmental Public Health inspections.
Who is responsible for water testing and when is the last time the water was tested?
Water quality testing is monitored by Alberta Health Services based on provincial regulations. The facility’s cistern water, which was the primary source of water for the restaurant, was tested on June 18, 2025, and it was deemed safe for consumption at that time. The facility’s well water, which is the new water supply for the food facilities, has been tested during the ongoing investigation and was also deemed safe for consumption.
When can the food facilities reopen?
Once all the conditions in the closure order are met and public health inspectors and medical officers of health have deemed it safe to reopen. The closure order is available on AHS’s website. The remainder of the venue remains open and safe for business. Our public health inspectors continue to work closely with the business to ensure its food facilities are safe and operating in accordance with all public health guidelines.
Are packaged foods or beverages made by the facility safe to consume, or should people throw them out?
Out of an abundance of caution, these items should be disposed of.
What is the period of concern for consuming food, water and beverages at Saskatoon Farm?
July 1 to 18.
Is it safe to eat premade foods like fresh and frozen pies purchased at the Saskatoon Farm between July 1 and 18?
Out of an abundance of caution, these items should be disposed of.
Is it safe to eat berries I picked at the Saskatoon Farm?
Yes. Fruit and produce should always be thoroughly washed before eating.
