Another E coli Petting Zoo Case
Our law firm sent out the following press release today. It underscores what is a growing problem in Minnesota and elsewhere in the country — enteric diseases transmitted at animal shows and petting zoos. This time the victim was a 3-year-old Minnesota boy who developed life-threatening Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, or HUS. When will owners of these venues start following the many guidelines officially set forward by the industry and endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?
MINNEAPOLIS, October 25, 2009–(Press Release)–Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, one of America’s leading food safety law firms and experts in cases involving E .coli O157:H7, has been retained to represent a 3½ year-old child sickened with E .coli O157:H7 poisoning and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. The child is believed to have contracted the illness at a local apple orchard and petting zoo in the Twin Cities metro area of Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Preliminary testing indicates that the genetic fingerprint of the E .coli O157:H7 sample obtained from the child’s stool 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, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV), among other organizations, have all issued pathogen reduction guidelines and instructions for operators of petting zoos and similar facilities.
Fred Pritzker is founding partner of Pritzker Olsen and the lawyer representing the child in this outbreak and children in other E .coli O157:H7-petting zoo cases. “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,” Pritzker said. “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 HUS after visiting the same business. In the child’s case, he spent 11 days in the hospital and could face long-term health consequences.
If you or a loved one developed E .coli O157:H7 poisoning and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome after visiting a local apple orchard and petting zoo, please contact the lawyers at Pritzker Olsen at 612-338-0202, 800-377-8900 or via email at fhp@pritzkerlaw.com. If you prefer to contact the firm online, go to my contact and information form.
Tags: hus ecoli
Fred Pritzker On Newsmakers
