Dallas County investigates possible E. coli cases in children, potential link to State Fair of Texas – CBS News

Dallas County investigates possible E. coli cases in children, potential link to State Fair of Texas  CBS News

Some children have been hospitalized in intensive care as health officials investigate up to seven possible E. coli cases and whether visits to the fair Dallas County health officials are investigating up to seven possible cases of E. coli involving children, some of whom have become seriously ill and required treatment in intensive care units. Investigators are examining whether the illnesses could be connected to visits to the State Fair of Texas, particularly its petting zoo. However, health officials emphasize that neither the cases nor a connection to the fair has been confirmed. "We have learned that there are multiple families that have very sick children in two different hospitals in the Dallas area," said Mary McGonigle-Martin, vice president of Parker's Promise, a nonprofit that supports families whose children have been hospitalized with serious infections such as E.

coli. Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Dr. Philip Huang said doctors alerted the county this week to possible cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, a type of bacteria that can cause severe illness. Huang said the doctors reported a potential common link among their patients: recent visits to the State Fair of Texas. "They thought [it] might be associated with being at the petting zoo at the state fair," Huang said. "We are still trying to follow up on that,