A new, unconfirmed case of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) illness that may be related to animals at the San Diego County Fair has been reported, according to the County of San Diego Health and Human Services. Lab results have confirmed a previously reported case. The new case is a 6-year-old boy who attended animal displays at the fair in June 2019 and started showing symptoms of the infection on June 26, 2019. He was not hospitalized and is recovering. There have been a total of five cases linked to contact with animals at the fair. Four are confirmed by lab tests and one is a probable case. Dr. Wilma Wooten, M.P.H., County public health officer said in a statement, "As we continue our investigation, more cases are likely to be reported. This is typical of any public … [Read more...]
E. coli Outbreak: One Little Child Dies, Three Sickened at San Diego County Fair
One 2-year-old boy has died, and three other children from 2 to 13 years of age have been sickened with E. coli infections after they visited the San Diego County Fair, according to the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency. The infections are apparently linked to contact with animals at that venue. Unfortunately, this is not the first time this has happened. Shiga toxin E. coli (STEC) outbreaks linked to county fairs and petting zoos have occurred several times in the past few years. An outbreak at the Oxford County Fair in Maine in 2015 sickened two small boys; one of them died. An E. coli outbreak at the Milk Makers Fest in Whatcom County, Washington in 2015 sickened 36 children with E. coli infections. And in 2014, an E. coli outbreak sickened 13 people in … [Read more...]
Utah STEC Outbreak Investigated; Petting Zoos and Farms Studied
Public health officials in Utah are investigating an increase in Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections (STEC) in that state, according to the Utah Department of Health. The source of this Utah STEC outbreak has not been identified, but some patients said they visited farms, corn mazes, and petting zoos before they got sick. This is nothing new. In the past few years, there have been several E. coli outbreaks linked to those types of attractions. Food safety attorney Fred Pritzker warned the public years ago about the potential danger at agricultural tourism venues. Ruminant animals, such as goats and cows, carry E. coli and other pathogenic bacteria in their intestines, and those animals do not get sick. The bacteria are shed in the animal's feces, which can then contaminate … [Read more...]
Fall Food Safety Tips From Public Health Officials
Fall is here, but even though the temperatures are cooler, food safety is still an issue. If you are participating in specific fall activities, follow the government's fall food safety tips to keep your family safe. People like to go apple picking, tailgate at football games, and go hiking and camping in the fall. The first step in preparing foods for these activities and in general is to make sure your hands are clean. Poor hand hygiene can cross-contaminate surfaces in your kitchen, such as refrigerator handles and countertops, with pathogenic bacteria. Wash your hands for 20 seconds using soap and water and dry with a clean towel. Raw meat and poultry are the most problematic foods. Make sure to use separate plates, utensils, and cutting boards when you work with these foods. … [Read more...]
E. coli and Cryptosporidium Cases Rise in Michigan
Cases of E. coli and Cryptosporidium increased this summer in two counties in Michigan, according to the Health Department. Jennifer Morse, medical director of three regional health departments in that state said in a statement, "These increases are concerning because the resulting illness can be life-threatening. With the investigations that have been completed thus far, the major source seems to be coming from farm animals." These illnesses occurred in Mecosta and Newaygo counties in Michigan. This is important information, since we are approaching the time when many farms open their gates to tourism. Apple picking season is here. Deadly food poisoning outbreaks linked to farms have increased in the past few years. In fact, in 2013, an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak at Dehn's Pumpkins in … [Read more...]
E. coli Outbreak at Washington County Fair; Is This Common?
The E. coli outbreak that may be associated with the Washington County Fair in Oregon raises questions about the safety of county and state fairs. At least two people are sick in that outbreak. There have been several serious outbreaks linked to those types of events in the past few years. The current outbreak in Oregon may or may not be related to the fair, but public health officials are looking at livestock exhibits at that event. Ruminant animals, such as cows and goats, can harbor E. coli bacteria in their intestines. Those animals will not get sick because they lack the gene for the disease to develop. But those animals shed the pathogenic bacteria in their feces. The bacteria can then get onto the animal's udders, onto their hooves, and onto their coats. When people drink … [Read more...]
E. coli Outbreak Linked to Oak Leaf Farm in CT Grows
The Connecticut State Department of Public Health (DPH) issued an update on the E. coli outbreak linked to Oak Leaf Farm in Lebanon. As of 1:00 p.m. on March 28, 2016, there are 15 confirmed cases of E. coli O157 infection. The number of cases could increase in the next few days. DPH is actively identifying people who were not initially included in the outbreak count. Fourteen of those cases are linked to the farm. The patients range in age from 1 year to 44 years old, with a median age of six. Five patients have been hospitalized, and three are still in the hospital. Two of those hospitalized patients have been diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Children are most susceptible to this complication of an E. coli infection, but the report did not state how old those patients … [Read more...]
National Zoo Under Quarantine for E. coli Discovery
The Smithsonian's National Zoo has temporarily closed the Kids' Farm exhibit, which is essentially a petting zoo, because E. coli bacteria were found in some of the animals. No staff have been sickened and no animals are showing any signs of disease, according to the press release, but animals generally do not get sick from this type of bacteria. Veterinarians found the E. coli stx 1 gene bacteria in goats through a routine fecal screening process on February 18, 2016. The goats were moved into the barn and kept away from other animals and from visitors. More cultures were performed on February 22, 2016. On February 26, 2016, results revealed that four goats and one cow were positive for the bacteria. The Kids' farm was immediately quarantined. All farm animals are being treated with … [Read more...]
Toddlers in Maine Sickened by Same Strain of E. coli
The E. coli bacteria that sickened two Maine children after visiting the Oxford County fair have the same genetic fingerprint, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control. One of those little boys died last week. The strain is E. coli O111, one of the Shiga toxin-producing bacteria found in ruminant animals. The second child is recuperating from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and is undergoing dialysis and blood transfusions. Both children were at the petting barn at the fair in September 2015. Noted food safety attorney Fred Pritzker said, "no child should get so sick and die just because they attended a fair with their families." State Epidemiologist Dr. Siri Bennett said at a press conference, "The strain and the molecular typing from each patient is identical, making it … [Read more...]
Oxford County Fair E. coli Outbreak: Hand Sanitizers Were Empty
The father of Colton Guay, the 20-month-old boy who died from an E. coli infection he contracted at the Oxford County Fair, told WMTW that hand sanitizer dispensers at the fair were empty. The family used their own hand sanitizers, "but look what happened," he told the station. Little Colton was one of two young boys who got E. coli infections after attending the fair. Both of them developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication of E. coli infections that causes kidney failure, seizure, stroke, coma and death. Myles Herschaft, 17 months, remains hospitalized at the Maine Medical Center. State health officials said both boys were sickened by the same strain of E. coli O111 - meaning their infections came from the same source. It is not yet known if that source was the … [Read more...]
