The Division of Public Health of the New York Department of Health and Human Services in North Carolina has updated the E. coli outbreak linked to the Cleveland County Fair. Now 106 people are ill, including 65 children and 41 adults. Thirteen people have been or are currently hospitalized. One child has died as a result of the infection. The case counts are as follows by county: Cleveland County (61), Gaston County (15, including one death), Lincoln County (14), Catawba County (2), Union County (2), Rutherford (7), York County, South Carolina (2), Cherokee County, South Carolina (3). The new cases are in Gaston County and Rutherford. E. coli bacteria produces shiga toxins, which destroy red blood cells and can cause serious complications including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). … [Read more...]
Cleveland County NC Fair E. coli Outbreak Grows Again
As of Friday, October 26, 2012, the case count in the E. coli outbreak linked to the Cleveland County Fair in North Carolina has grown to include 104 people. Sixty-three children and forty-one adults have been affected in this outbreak. Thirteen people have been or are currently hospitalized. One child has died. The case counts are as follows: Cleveland County (61), Gaston County (14, including 1 death), Lincoln County (14), Catawba County (2), Union County (2), Rutherford (6), York County South Carolina (2), and Cherokee County South Carolina (3). The three new cases are in Cleveland County and Cherokee County, South Carolina. The notice states, "preliminary findings suggest animal exposure may be the source of the outbreak." An E. coli infection can lead to complications including … [Read more...]
North Carolina Cleveland County Fair E. coli Outbreak Grows to 101 Patients
The Division of Public Health of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is investigating the E. coli outbreak among people who visited the Cleveland County Fair in September and early October. As of 1:00 p.m. October 24, 2012, 62 children and 39 adults are ill with the outbreak strain of the bacteria. Thirteen people have been or are currently hospitalized. One child has died from the infection. The case counts are as follows: Cleveland County (59), Gaston County (14, including 1 death), Lincoln County (14), Catawba County (2), Union County (2), Rutherford (6), York County South Carolina (2), and Cherokee County South Carolina (2). There is still no word on what caused the outbreak, although officials suspect animals at the fair may be the source. Public health … [Read more...]
Cleveland County Fair E. coli Outbreak Numbers Change Again
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has updated the E. coli 0157:H7 outbreak linked to the Cleveland County Fair again. They are updating the investigation and outbreak numbers every day at 2:00 pm. The outbreak has grown again, to include 100 patients, up two people from yesterday. The case counts by county are as follows: Cleveland County (59), Gaston County (14, including one death), Lincoln County (14), Catawba County (1), Union County (2), Rutherford (6), York County in South Carolina (2), and Cherokee County in South Carolina (2). Now 62 children and 38 adults are part of the outbreak. Thirteen patients have been or currently are hospitalized. One child, a 2-year-old toddler, has died. Attorney Fred Pritzker, who has filed lawsuits on behalf of clients in … [Read more...]
Cleveland County NC Fair E. coli 0157:H7 Outbreak Numbers Changed
As of today, October 22, 2012, there are 98 people confirmed ill with the outbreak strain of E. coli 0157:H7 linked to the Cleveland County Fair. Sixty children and thirty-eight adults are part of the outbreak. Preliminary findings suggest that animal exposure may be the source of the outbreak. Now, 60 children and 38 adults are confirmed ill with the outbreak strain of the bacteria. Twelve people are currently or have been hospitalized. There has been one death, of a toddler in Gaston county. The case count is as follows: Cleveland County (58), Gaston County (15, with one death), Lincoln County (13), Catawba County (1), Union County (2), Rutherford (5), York County, South Carolina (2), Cherokee County, South Carolina (2). Case counts change during an active investigation as cases are … [Read more...]
As Cleveland County Shows, E.coli Outbreaks At Fairs Hit Children Hardest
The E. coli outbreak linked to the Cleveland County Fair in North Carolina is the latest example of how children are hit hardest when foodborne illness strikes fairgoers. Of the 106 people included in this outbreak, 64 are children, 12 of whom have been hospitalized and one of whom has died, according to the latest update from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. Animal exposure has been identified as a a possible source of the outbreak, which has been the case in a number of instances where foodborne illness outbreaks have been linked to fairs and petting zoos. “These events are a well recognized source of E. coli poisoning and have been implicated in several outbreaks in recent years,” said Fred Pritzker, food safety attorney and publisher of Food Poisoning Bulletin. … [Read more...]
Cleveland County Fair E. coli Outbreak Grows to 81
The E. coli outbreak linked to the Cleveland County Fair in North Carolina has grown to include 81 people, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The outbreak is among people who attended the Fair, which ended on October 7, 2012. Attorney Fred Pritzker, who is accepting cases from the current outbreak, said, "officials think this outbreak may have been caused by contamination in the Cleveland County Fair's interactive animal exhibits." An E. coli infection can lead to may long term health problems, including kidney ailments, hypertension, stroke, and heart disease. "It is crucial that anyone sickened in this outbreak get immediate medical care," he added. The case count as of 2 pm on October 18, 2012 is: Cleveland County (48), Gaston County (11, with … [Read more...]
E. coli Outbreak Linked to Cleveland County NC Fair Grows to 61 Patients
The E. coli outbreak linked to the Cleveland County Fair in North Carolina has grown to include 61 people. Eleven people have been hospitalized, and one child, a 2-year-old toddler, has died. The Division of Public Health of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services in collaboration with Local Health Departments is investigating the outbreak. The state is reporting updates on the outbreak every day. This outbreak is a reminder that E. coli infections are very serious and can cause lifetime problems, including kidney failure if hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, develops. This type of infection, even a mild case, can cause hypertension, kidney problems, heart disease, and stroke. It's crucial that anyone who attended this fair and is experiencing symptoms of an E. coli … [Read more...]
E. coli Outbreak Linked to Cleveland County Fair in NC Grows to Include SC
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released a statement saying that the number of E. coli cases among people who attended the Cleveland County Fair has grown from 21 to 38. They include 22 children and 16 adults. Eight people have been or were hospitalized; a toddler died on Friday from the infection. Public health officials are interviewing family members of the patients and information is being analyzed. As of Monday, October 15, 2012, the case counts are as follows: Cleveland County (18), Gaston County (7), Lincoln County (9), Catawba County (1), Union County (1), York County, South Carolina (1), Cherokee County, South Carolina (1). All of the patients attended the Cleveland County Fair in Shelby, North Carolina, September 27 through October 7. Attorney … [Read more...]
Toddler Dies from E. Coli HUS Linked to Cleveland County Fair
The E. coli outbreak linked to the Cleveland County fair has grown and has claimed the life of a toddler. Sixteen people in four counties are sick with the dangerous bacteria, and several people are hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication of the bacterial infection. Little Gage Lefevers died on Friday, October 12, 2012. He is one of eight children who have been sickened in this outbreak. Twelve-year-old Jordan McNair is still hospitalized in intensive care, but he is improving. E. coli bacteria are found in the feces of farm animals such as cows, sheep, and goats. The bacteria is transferred to humans when they touch surfaces that are contaminated with feces, then eat something or touch their mouths. These infections can also be spread person-to-person. … [Read more...]
