2 kids sick; E. coli cases linked to Oregon pumpkin patch petting zoo

KPTV – Fox12 Oregon — reports Cowlitz County health officials have confirmed one case of E. coli linked to a Longview pumpkin patch.

Investigators said there is also one probable case connected to the Willow Grove Gardens Pumpkin Patch and Petting Zoo.

The two children became ill after visiting the farm earlier this month. One of the children was hospitalized for several days but is now recovering.

A table of petting zoo outbreaks is available at http://bites.ksu.edu/petting-zoos-outbreaks.

A list of risk factors at petting zoos and animal contact events at fairs can be found in: Erdozain G, Kukanich K, Chapman B, Powell D. 2012. Observation of public health risk behaviours, risk communication and hand hygiene at Kansas and Missouri petting zoos – 2010-2011. Zoonoses Public Health. 2012 Jul 30. doi: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2012.01531.x. [Epub ahead of print]