Animal contact cited in E. coli cases at NC fair
(AP)—State health officials say contact with animals is the likely source of an E. coli outbreak linked to North Carolina county fair.
A statement from the Department of Health and Human Services on Friday said 64 children and 42 adults have been sickened in the outbreak. A 2-year-old died of complications from the bacterial illness.
Officials say 12 people have been or are currently hospitalized.
State Health Director Laura Gerald says the investigation is progressing but a specific cause still hasn't been determined.
Public health officials expect the number of cases associated directly with the nine-day fair that ended Oct. 7 will soon stop growing. But it is possible that secondary cases, or those passed from person to person, may appear for several more weeks.
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