According to AP, two Maine children have been hospitalized with symptoms associated with E. coli, and state health officials said Tuesday they are investigating whether their illness can be traced to the Oxford County fair.
The state Center for Disease Control and Prevention is looking for common links, including that both children from Androscoggin County attended the fair last month. The CDC is sending the state veterinarian and Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to the fair to investigate, a spokesman said. They’ll be looking at animal exhibits, among other things.
Lab tests revealed the presence of toxins associated with E. coli in both children, the CDC spokesman said.
WMTW reports that one child is dead after visiting the Oxford County Fair, according to his father. WMTW spoke with Jon Guay, the father of Colton Guay, who confirmed that Colton died of HUS, hemolytic uremic syndrome, a week after being at the fair.
The other boy, 17-month-old Myles Herschaft, of Auburn, is still battling a case of HUS, according a Facebook post made by his father, Victor, on Tuesday.
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