The Whatcom County Health Department (WCHD) is investigating an outbreak of shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) associated with the Milk Makers Fest at the Northwest Fairgrounds in Lynden on 4/21 – 4/23/15. Over a thousand primary school children from all of the school districts in Whatcom County attended the event.
WCHD is interviewing the ill students and their parents to identify whether there was a common food or water source or activity, such as the petting zoo or other livestock contact. We are also monitoring for spread to other household members. We have contacted medical providers in Whatcom County about the outbreak and have asked them to obtain stool cultures and notify us of any cases of diarrhea in patients that attended the event in Lynden.
As of this afternoon, six cases have been identified that are associated with the event. Five of the cases are primary school children who attended the event. Three of the five had stool cultures that were positive for E. coli, presumed O157 (with confirmation pending at the WA State Laboratory), and were positive for shiga toxin 2. Two of the children did not have tests done, but have symptoms consistent with STEC and the exposure history. Another older child who was associated with the event has lab confirmed STEC. Two of the lab confirmed cases have been hospitalized. Another adult, without a known connection to the Milk Makers Fest or to any of the cases, has also been hospitalized with lab-confirmed STEC.
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