An E. coli outbreak at an event attended by 1,000 grade school children has sickened at least six people. The outbreak is associated with the Milk Makers Fest at the Northwest Fairgrounds in Whatcom County, Washington. Two of them have been hospitalized.
The festival in Lynden from April 21-23 was attended by school children from all of the school districts in Whatcom County attended the event including: Ferndale, Bellingham, Lynden, Blaine and Nooksack.
Officials from the Whatcom County Health Department are interviewing ill students and their parents to determine if there was a common food or water source. Or, if there was a common activity, such as petting zoo, among those sickened. Petting zoos are a common source of food poisoning.
Symptoms of an E. coli infection include vomiting and diarrhea that may be bloody. Anyone who attended the festival and is experiencing these symptoms should see a doctor.
