Kidney Disease Outbreak in Florida Linked to Fairs

Two more children have been stricken with life-threatening kidney infections after visiting petting zoos at fairs, bringing the total hospitalized in central Florida to nine, officials said Thursday.

There were fears the number of children suffering from the rare disease -- hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS -- would continue to grow.

Beyond those hospitalized, two children and an adult showing symptoms of HUS were under observation, said Dr. Mehul Dixit, who is treating some of the children at Florida Hospital Orlando.

Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, lethargy, anemia and decreased urine output.

HUS is a complication arising from an infection most commonly associated with E. coli, a bacterium found in undercooked beef or contaminated food.

The hospitalized children all touched animals recently at area fairs, including the Central Florida Fair in Orlando and the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City. The children might have been exposed to the bacteria through animals’ feces, officials said.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson said state veterinarians are tracking down the animals so they could be inspected to determine what infections, if any, might have been transmitted.

Veterinarians also are reviewing sanitary measures at the petting zoos.