OXFORD — Maine authorities say it will be several days before they comment on the results of an investigation into two cases in which Androscoggin County children were hospitalized with symptoms associated with E. coli.
The agency says both children attended the Oxford County Fair in September and visited animals barns and a petting zoo. A spokesman for the state agriculture department says the state veterinarian went to the fairgrounds on Wednesday to take samples from bedding that will be tested.
Jon Guay told the Sun Journal on Tuesday that his 20-month-old son, Colton, died Monday. Guay said the boy may have contracted HUS, or hemolytic uremic syndrome, after being exposed to E. coli bacteria while petting farm animals at the Oxford County Fair in September.
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.
At the Fryeburg Fair on Wednesday, signs at the petting zoo warned of the danger of E. coli and cautioned that anyone having contact with the animals clean their hands afterward. The signs had not been posted on Tuesday.
A spokesman for the CDC says the testing will take a long period of time and updates are unlikely for several days.
The CDC said on Tuesday that lab tests revealed the presence of toxins associated with E. coli in both children. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting.
Also read: What you need to know about E. coli
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