An E.coli infection from a petting zoo visit has landed a seven-year-old girl in the hospital battling kidney failure. The girl, one of at least three children to contract E.coli infections after contact with the animals at Dehn's Pumpkins in Dayton, MN, developed hemoyltic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication of some E.coli infections, and faces weeks in the hospital. The other children did not require hospitalization. About 15 percent of children with E. coli infections develop HUS, the leading cause of pediatric kidney failure in in the United States. Most cases are associated with E. coli O157:H7 , the strain identified in this outbreak. Treatment of HUS can last for weeks and includes blood transfusions, plasma exchange and kidney dialysis. Complications can include … [Read more...]
MN E. coli Lawyer Asks if Dehn’s Pumpkins Had Prevention Plan
E. coli HUS outbreak investigators in Minnesota are delving into the operational history at Dehn's Pumpkins to determine what prevention plans were in place to combat the well-known risk of child E. coli infections from dangerous bacteria in petting zoo settings. One of the active observers of the Dehn's outbreak is HUS attorney Fred Pritzker, whose Minneapolis-based law firm is preparing to represent victims in the area around Dayton, Minnesota. Two epidemiologists from the state health department, Carrie Klumb and Joni Scheftel, said three children have been confirmed to have matching infections of E. coli O157:H7 and one of those case patients remains hospitalized with kidney failure and HUS, or hemolytic uremic syndrome. Two additional illnesses are being evaluated as possible E. … [Read more...]
E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak at Dehn’s Pumpkins in Dayton, MN
The Minnesota Department of Health is reporting that three people are ill with confirmed E. coli O157:H7 infections after contact with animals at Dehn's Pumpkins' petting zoo in Dayton, MN. The three cases are all children, ranging in age from 15 months to 7 years. One child is hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious complication of an E. coli infection that can cause kidney failure. The others were not hospitalized. The children visited the farm on October 12 or 13, 2013, and became ill on October 16 or 18, 2013. The Department is following up with any groups that visited that farm to discover if anyone else has become ill. Two more people may be part of this outbreak, since they have reported symptoms consistent with E. coli O157:H7 infections and are being … [Read more...]
Cleveland County Petting Zoo Recommendations: Enter at Your Own Risk
The Cleveland County Fair Working Group held a press conference this week to give their recommendations on how to make the event safer. Last year's outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 at the Fair sickened more than 100 people; seven people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. A toddler died as a result of the infection. In early May, a task force recommended that there be no petting zoo at the fair at all. The goal of the Group was to review prevention measures that were in place during that outbreak and to identify measures to help mitigate the risk of disease transmission. The Group did not recommend that petting zoos or animal contact exhibits be banned at the fair. They stated that animal contact exhibits at sanctioned agricultural fairs must adhere to the requirements set forth in … [Read more...]
Task Force Recommends No Petting Zoos at County Fair
According to WSOCTV.com, a task force in Cleveland County, North Carolina is recommending that petting zoos be banned from county fairs after an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak last year sickened 106 people in 2012. One child died in that outbreak, and dozens of children were hospitalized. Investigators determined that the petting zoo was the initial source of exposure to E. coli O157:H7. Weather may have played a role in the outbreak, as runoff may have contaminated the area where the petting zoo was stationed. There are supposed to be stringent protocols in place for these petting zoos and county fairs. But the wash station soap dispensers were empty on the day that the child who died visited the fair. Two specific outbreak strains of E. coli were found in environmental samples taken from … [Read more...]
At Least Ten E. coli Cases Linked to Willow Grove Gardens Petting Zoo in Washington
At least ten E. coli infections have been linked to the Willow Grove Gardens Pumpkin Patch petting zoo in Washington state according to the Oregonian. Most of those sickened are children. The Cowlitz County Department of Health has been investigating this outbreak but has not updated their information. The petting zoo closed down earlier this month when the outbreak was announced. Unfortunately, petting zoos are often the source of E. coli and other bacterial outbreaks. The petting zoo at the Cleveland County Fair in North Carolina was the source of an E. coli outbreak this fall that sickened more than 100 people and killed one child. Animals, even those that appear healthy, can be carriers of E. coli and other pathogenic bacteria. Petting the animals easily transfers the bacteria to … [Read more...]
E.coli Outbreak At Pumpkin Patch Petting Zoo Sickens Four
Four children who visited the petting zoo at Willow Grove Gardens Pumpkin Patch have tested positive for E.coli, Hilary Gillette-Walch, nurse manager for the Cowlitz County Health Department told Food Poisoning Bulletin this afternoon. At least one of the children, who are all under ten, was hospitalized. Results from lab tests show one child was infected with the strain E. coli 0157:H7, results from tests to identify the strains of E.coli that infected of the other three children are pending. It could be weeks before health officials know with certainty if all four children were poisoned by the same strain, said Gillette-Walch. Symptoms of an infection include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea which can sometimes by bloody. The bacteria can be picked up by petting an animal and then … [Read more...]
E. coli Outbreak Linked to Willow Grove Pumpkin Patch Petting Zoo in Washington
An E. coli 0157:H7 outbreak linked to the Willow Grove Gardens Pumpkin Patch and petting zoo has been announced by the Cowlitz County Health & Human Services Department of Washington. Public health officials have confirmed one child is ill with the bacterial infection, and there is one probable case. One of the children was hospitalized for several days but is now recovering. Public health officials are asking that anyone who visited the facility and has symptoms of E. coli food poisoning such as diarrhea, which may be bloody, severe stomach cramps, vomiting, or a mild fever, contact them immediately at 360-414-5599. E. coli can easily be transmitted from animals to people when they touch or feed animals, touch the floor that has been contaminated with feces, using contaminated … [Read more...]
