Officials from the Louisville Metro Department of Health and Wellness have traced E. coli strains from three victims back to Huber’s Orchard and Winery. While the investigation, now under the supervision of the Indiana State Health Department and the Indiana Board of Animal Health, has not named the exact origin of this E. coli infection, parents of two of the young victims have emphasized their belief that their children were sickened by the petting zoo at the orchard.
So far, three individuals have fallen ill with E. coli after visiting Huber’s Orchard and Winery in Starlight, Indiana. All three patrons visited the orchard between September 20th and September 28th. Genetic fingerprinting of the bacteria revealed the orchard as the common source.
Petting zoos and their animal inhabitants can pose a serious threat to visiting families. Animals and their feces may carry E. coli and places to wash hands may not always be accessible or functional.
If you, or your child, has been sickened by E. coli after visiting a petting zoo, you may require an attorney to help you understand your legal rights. Attorney Fred Pritzker has experience representing individuals sickened with E. coli after visiting a petting zoo. In 2013, Fred filed suit on behalf of the LeFevers family whose young son Hunter “Gage” LeFever died after contracting E. coli at the Cleveland County Fair in North Carolina in Fall 2012.
Gage’s death was preventable. His parents followed proper hand washing procedures but the wash station was out of soap. Soon after, he fell ill and was diagnosed with an E. coli O157:H7 infection and consequentially, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition that attacks a victim’s kidneys. Gage passed away only 12 days after visiting the fair.
For more information and a free consultation, contact our experienced E. coli attorneysn.