Outbreak of E. coli O157 Linked to Cleveland County (NC) Fair, 2012
In October 2012 North Carolina state health officials investigated an outbreak of E. coli O157 among persons who attended the Cleveland County Fair. The fair ran from Septebmer 26 to October 7. In total 106 people were reported ill; 25 were confirmed cases and 81 were probable cases. One confirmed case acquired illness via secondary transmission while providing care for another confirmed case. Patients resided in the following North Carolina counties: Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, Catawba, Mecklenburg, Rutherford, and Union. Residents of York and Cherokee Counties in South Carolina were also ill. There was one death in a Gaston County child. Eleven cases were hospitalized. Seven children developed HUS. One child died. Investigators concluded that two method of disease transmission occurred in this outbreak: point source (petting zoo and associated physical environment) and person-to-person.
- Outbreak began:
- October 2012
- Affected Country:
- US
- Affected States/Territories:
- South Carolina
- Organism(s):
-
- E. coli O157
- Vehicle(s):
- unknown
- Molecular Results Available:
- Yes
- Test Results:
- EXHX01.0047/EXHA26.0015; EXHX01.3632/EXHA26.0217
- Location(s):
- Agricultural fair
- Brand Name(s):
- Total ill:
- 106
- Number ill by Case Definition Known:
- Yes
- Number Laboratory Confirmed Cases:
- 25
- Number Probable Cases:
- 81
- Number Possible Cases:
- 0
- Anyone Hospitalized:
- Yes
- Number Hospitalized:
- 11
- Any Deaths:
- Yes
- Number Dead:
- 1
- Any References:
- No