Death of Child in Indiana from E. coli
Another child has died from an E. coli infection. Health officials are looking at the petting zoo at the Hendricks County Fair as a possible source of the illness.
We are currently representing a family whose little boy contracted an E. coli infection after visiting another petting zoo. In that case, the boy developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), but survived.
Petting zoos at fairs and other locations need to be safer for children:
- Soap and warm, running water should be available for washing hands in or near the petting zoo and at many stations throughout the fairgrounds.
- Most people do not understand that animals can have dangerous pathogens like E. coli O157:H7 on them. Large warning signs with eye-catching graphics should be displayed throughout the petting zoo area and the entire fairgrounds.
- Staff at the petting zoo should discuss the importance of hand washing with visitors.
The family of the young girl who died, Kalei Welch, wants to get out the message about hand washing:
"The petting zoo part of a fair really can be a dangerous place because they're touching the animals," said Marc Monte, senior pastor at Faith Baptist Church in Avon, Indiana, and spokesman for Kalei's family. "The animals sometimes have this bacteria on them. If hands are not washed or if they depend on just the sanitizer, that can be not a good thing."
