Florida Petting Zoo 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.

• Marler Clark calls for legislation to protect visitors at petting zoos

• Lawsuits filed in E. coli outbreak

• E. coli outbreak finds eerie echo in N. Carolina

• E. coli outbreak in Florida brings scrutiny to petting zoos

• Petting-zoo safety stressed in wake of E. coli illnesses

• Petting zoo linked to illness

• Victims linked to petting zoo

• Outbreak of E. coli expands

• Number of fair-related illnesses grows to 17

• E. coli sickens 4 more victims

• 3 more bacterial cases reported

• Dire warning about E. coli is necessary

• Illnesses connected to 2 fairs

• Woman certain petting zoo caused grandsons’ illness

• Pasco girl’s death may have link to E. coli outbreak

• Petting zoos being shuttered in wake of sicknesses

• Investigators focusing on dangerous E. coli strain in Florida outbreak

• 3 new cases of rare kidney disease found

• Petting Zoo Tests Due Monday

• Ever-present E. coli can cause illness, death

• Petting zoos not regulated

• Lightning Strikes the Same Spot Twice

• Sickened Children All Went To A Fair

• 7th Florida child develops kidney ailment

• E. coli attorney speaks out about E. coli outbreaks at fairs, petting zoos

• State probes what caused kidney failure in 5 children