Health Law

Appalachian Fair Possible Source of Eastern Tennessee E. Coli Illnesses

By Marler Clark LLP

Eastern Tennessee's Appalachian Fair is the suspected source of the E. coli O157:H7 infections in two children.

The Johnson City Medical Center is reporting that two children are being treated in the hospital with infections of the deadly bacteria.

A week ago, doctors found four-year-old Gage Peterson has E. coli. Three week prior to Peterson's admission, another child came into the hospital with E. coli. That child is now in the pediatric ICU.

The Tennessee Health Department has yet to identify the source of Peterson's infection, but family members say he may have contracted it while looking at cows at the Appalachian Fair.

The E. coli bacteria thrives in the intestinal tracts of cattle, pigs and goats and released through bowl movements.

Full post as published by e.Coli Blog on September 10, 2009 (boomark / email).