Fair and Petting Zoo Safety

A resource for fair and petty zoo legal cases and outbreak prevention

2000 Medina County, Ohio, Fair E. coli Outbreak

A cluster of E. coli O157:H7 isolates was observed in Medina County, Ohio, in August of 2000. In the case-control investigation, 43 culture confirmed E. coli O157:H7 cases were identified. The environmental investigation suggested that contamination of a section of the water distribution system supplying various vendors was the likely exposure. Water samples collected for this study did not indicate any coliform bacteria. But, a subsequent Halloween event arranged on the same fairgrounds was linked to illness in five children who developed E. coli O157:H7 infection. These children consumed water during the party and isolate patterns from these children matched DNA fingerprint patterns from the earlier event at the Medina County Fair.

2000 Snohomish County, Washington, Petting Zoo E. coli Outbreak
1999 E. coli Outbreak at a Social Event in a Cow Pasture in Petersburg, Illinois

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