The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) is investigating an outbreak of seven confirmed cases of E. coli and two cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Patients sickened in this outbreak range in age from 2 to 25. Six of the seven patients recently visited the Oak Leaf Dairy Farm, a goat farm in Lebanon, Connecticut. The farm is not open for animal visits as a precaution. DPH Commissioner Paul Pino said in a statement, "earlier today, DPH was informed of several patients from Southeastern Connecticut who have become ill with E. coli. We are closely monitoring the situation and working with our partners at the CDC and other relevant stakeholders. We will continue to work diligently to provide the public with the information it needs as we investigate. We strongly encourage … [Read more...]
CDC Aids in Investigation of Deadly E. coli Outbreak at Oxford County Fair in Maine
Maine Health officials have enlisted the help of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in determining the source of a September E. coli outbreak at the Oxford County Fair that sickened two small boys, killing one of them. Both toddlers developed E. coli O111 infections after attending the fair, their parents believe the petting zoo was the source of contamination. The boys were both sickened by the same strain of E. coli O111, meaning their infections came from the same source. State health officials performed a number of tests on samples taken from the fair but were unable to establish a link. As a federal agency, the CDC has better technology and will be able to conduct more thorough testing, a health official told a local publication. Little Colton Guay, who was … [Read more...]
