Outbreaks
AgVenture Farms / Florida Fair E. coli Outbreak
The Florida Department of Health began investigating a potential E. coli O157:H7 outbreak among people who interacted with animals at the Central Florida State Fair and the Florida Strawberry Festival in mid-March, 2005 after several children were admitted to Orlando-area hospitals with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, a complication of E. coli infection that causes kidney failure. Investigators suspected that the source of infection was livestock in petting zoos. As of March 30, investigators had confirmed 22 E. coli cases statewide, and another 24 adults and children were suspected of having the bacterial infection or HUS.Outbreak Updates
- Toddlers still fight E. coli infections
- Petting zoo cases of E. coli rises to 24
- Petting zoo linked to illness
- Petting-zoo safety stressed in wake of E. coli illnesses
- E. coli sickens 4 more victims
- Third fair linked to petting zoo E. coli outbreak that sickened 22
- Dire warning about E. coli is necessary
- E. coli victim downgraded to critical
- Pasco girl's death may have link to E. coli outbreak
- Petting zoos being shuttered in wake of sicknesses
- Ever-present E. coli can cause illness, death
- 3 new cases of rare kidney disease found
- Sickened Children All Went To A Fair
- E. coli attorney speaks out about E. coli outbreaks at fairs, petting zoos
- State probes what caused kidney failure in 5 children