Dallas County health officials are investigating whether a number of possible E. coli cases across North Texas, which involve children, could be connected to the petting zoo at the State Fair of Texas. Dr. Philip Huang, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services, told The Dallas Morning News on Wednesday that the cases extend beyond Dallas County. He said, "We're aware of, I think, nine cases now." Huang said his department is not investigating all of them. No connection has been established, and the cases have not been confirmed as a single outbreak.
The department learned of the illnesses on Monday morning, Huang said. Investigators are reviewing laboratory results, interviewing patients and families, and working to verify diagnoses and determine whether the infections share a source. Huang said officials confirmed the fair and its petting zoo had already closed when the department became aware of the illnesses. The fair ended its 24-day run on Oct. 18 at Fair Park in Dallas.
In a statement, State Fair of Texas officials said they were concerned to hear reports that children may have become ill and that fair officials have been in contact with county health officials. The fair said it maintains health and safety precautions at its animal exhibits, including measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The fair said it has no verified information establishing the cause of the reported illnesses. Mary McGonigle-Martin, a representative of the nonprofit Parker's Promise, said Wednesday that three children remain hospitalized after attending the fair. She said the group is supporting three Dallas-area families and trying to contact a fourth. All three children attended the fair, though only some visited the petting zoo.