Child E. coli HUS case Prompts Look at County Fair
Three children aged 5 through 15 were all sickened by shiga toxin-producing E. coli after attending the Northwestern Michigan County Fair. If the cause of the illnesses came from the fair, officials say the most likely source of transmission was contact with animals that carried the bacteria.
The cluster of E. coli is being investigated by the Michigan state health authority and the Grand Traverse County Health Department. 9 & 10 News reported tonight that one of the children remains hospitalized. Children under 5 are in the age group most susceptible to developing a complication of E. coli infection known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS can keep children hospitalized for lengthy periods with kidney failure and many other impairments caused by the toxin.
Michigan health officials are taking the opportunity of the outbreak to remind families to practice strict hand hygiene at county fairs and other animal exhibits. Cattle and other animals shed E. coli from their feces and it can survive on the hides of cattle and other animals.
HUS E coli in Wisconsin Possibly Connected to Petting Zoo
A young child with E. coli-related hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in Wisconsin may have been sickened at a petting zoo. The child, an 18-month-old girl from Lomira, Wisconsin, is battling HUS complications, including HUS kidney failure. She is expected to remain hospitalized for several weeks at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
The toddler’s father, told The Northwestern that his family wants all parents to know what can happen with E. coli and the signs to watch out for. HUS develops in five to 15 percent of people who contract shiga toxin-producing E. coli — mostly E. coli 0157:H7 — and children under 5 are the most susceptible of any age group.
The sick child developed a low-grade fever about five days after visiting the petting zoo on July 25. When she developed bloody diarrhea, they rushed her to the emergency room at St. Agnes Hospital. The next day they brough her to see her pediatrician and she was admitted to the hospital because she was dehydrated. When her kidneys failed, she was transported to the hospital in Milwaukee. She remains on dialysis and has been receiving blood transfusions.
Rush County E. coli May Be Associated With Rush County Fair
The Rush County, Indiana, Health Department is investigating an E. coli outbreak that may be associated with the Rush County Fair. Two Rush County children contracted E. coli infections and then developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe illness that causes kidney failure and other serious health problems, including pancreatitis, hypertension, blindness and seizures.
Cow, goat, buffalo and llama feces can be contaminated with E. coli. When young children pet these animals, contaminated manure can get on their hands and then in their mouths.
Food Isn’t The Only Vehicle for E. coli Infection in Humans
By Kathy Will
Eating contaminated food is still far and away the most common way for people to become infected with E. coli O157:H7, a deadly pathogen that sickens more than 70,000 Americans each year.
But national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen Attorneys is reminding families early in 2009 that contact with animals at livestock shows, petting zoos and other exhibits is another proven way for the organism to travel.
The law firm’s warning stems from a current E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Colorado. Health officials there are investigating an apparent connection between a growing number of genetically matched infections and attendance at the recent Western National Stock Show in Denver.
According to numerous press reports, at least 20 people who live on the Front Range in Colorado have been infected with the same strain of E. coli. Sixteen of the illnesses are in children who attended the animal exhibit, including a child who is 17 months old. The two-week show drew more than 643,000 attendees before it ended January 25 and health officials expect the number of E. coli O157:H7 infections in the current outbreak to grow.
“This outbreak should not have happened and could have been prevented,” said Fred Pritzker, founder and president of PritzkerOlsen. “When stock shows encourage or permit public contact with animals, there is a well known risk of E. coli O157:H7 infection and equally well known measures that should be in place to prevent such infections.”
Pritzker said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV) published a compendium of such infection prevention measures almost four years ago.
“Although the matter is still under investigation, it seems likely that rules of this sort were not implemented or followed,” he said.
Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a rare variety of E. coli that produces a toxin that causes severe damage to the lining of the intestine. Specifically, the acute disease caused by E. coli O157:H7 is hemorrhagic colitis. E. coli O157:H7 can also result in hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), the leading cause of kidney failure in children in the United States.
With the understanding that children are more at risk for being seriously injured or killed by E. coli O157:H7 infection, it is imperative for families and school groups to take precautions while attending petting zoos, livestock shows and other animal exhibits.
Based on guidelines set by the (CDC) and the National Ag Safety Database, PritzkerOlsen presents the following strategies to reduce the risk of E. coli transmission in settings with animals:
- Locate hand-washing stations and always wash your hands after being in an area with animals, even if you don’t touch them. Bacteria can be spread by shaking hands, touching railings or coming in contact with soil.
- Running water and soap are best for hand washing. Where there is no running water, hand sanitizing gel is better than nothing.
- Don’t consume food or drinks in any area shared with animals.
- Older adults, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems and young children should be extra careful.
- Avoid hand-mouth activities such as smoking, drinking or nail biting in any area shared with animals.
- Do not eat or drink raw (unpasteurized) milk or other dairy products.
- Children younger than 5 years old need adult supervision around animals.
- Never allow children to put their hands, toys, pacifiers or other objects in their mouths while around animals.
- Supervise the hand washing of children.
- Even after hand washing, be aware that exposure to E. coli O157:H7 can come from shoes, contaminated clothing or even strollers that were in areas shared with animals.
