Pritzker Olsen law firm has been retained to represent a 3-year-old child sickened with an E. coli O157:H7 infection and hemolytic uremic syndrome. The child is believed to have contracted the illness at a local apple orchard/ petting zoo in the Twin Cities (MN) area. Preliminary testing indicates that the genetic fingerprint of the E .coli O157:H7 obtained from the child’s stool sample matches the genetic fingerprint of E. coli from llama feces tested at the petting zoo.
Petting zoos are a well recognized source of E .coli O157:H7 poisoning and have been implicated in several outbreaks in recent years. The Minnesota Department of Heath and the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV), among other organizations, have issued pathogen reduction guidelines and instructions for operators of petting zoos and similar facilities.
Fred Pritzker, a leading food safety lawyer, is representing the child in this outbreak. “Despite the frequency and severity of these kinds of cases, it does not appear the operator of this facility took the necessary precautions to prevent this child’s severe injuries,” stated Pritzker. “This is all the more tragic because the place catered to children and kids are particularly vulnerable to E .coli O157:H7 and the horrible syndrome that frequently develops from it, HUS.”
There may be other victims from this outbreak. Unconfirmed reports indicate that an older person may also have developed E .coli O157:H7 poisoning and hemolytic uremic syndrome after visiting the same business.
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