Emerging Infectious Diseases (May 2003)

Vero Cytotoxin–Producing Escherichia coli O157 Gastroenteritis in Farm Visitors, North Wales

  • Christopher J.I. Payne,
  • Marko Petrovic,
  • Richard J. Roberts,
  • Ashish Paul,
  • Eithne Linnane,
  • Mark Walker,
  • David Kirby,
  • Anthony Burgess,
  • Robert M.M. Smith,
  • Thomas Cheasty,
  • Geraldine Willshaw,
  • Roland L. Salmon

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid0905.020237
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 5
pp. 526 – 530

Abstract

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An outbreak of Vero cytotoxin–producing Escherichia coli O157 (VTEC O157) gastroenteritis in visitors to an open farm in North Wales resulted in 17 primary and 7 secondary cases of illness. E. coli O157 Vero cytotoxin type 2, phage type 2 was isolated from 23 human cases and environmental animal fecal samples. A case-control study of 16 primary case-patients and 36 controls (all children) showed a significant association with attendance on the 2nd day of a festival, eating ice cream or cotton candy (candy floss), and contact with cows or goats. On multivariable analysis, only the association between illness and ice cream (odds ratio [OR]=11.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04 to 137.76) and cotton candy (OR=51.90, 95% CI 2.77 to 970.67) remained significant. In addition to supervised handwashing, we recommend that foods on open farms only be eaten in dedicated clean areas and that sticky foods be discouraged.

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