Two more children are sick from probable Shiga toxin-producing E. coli possibly linked to the San Diego County Fair, county health officials announced Friday.
A 4-year-old girl and a 2-year-old girl separately visited the fair on June 21 and June 22, respectively, and had reported contacts with animals on display.
The 2-year-old became sick on June 26 but was not hospitalized. The 4-year-old became sick on June 29 and is currently hospitalized, the county's Health and Human Services Agency said.
This brings the total to three probable cases and four confirmed cases linked to the fair.
RELATED: Fifth Child Sick With E. Coli Possibly Linked To San Diego County Fair
Last Friday, a 6-year-old boy was reported sick with E. coli possibly linked to the fair. He is recovering.
The week before, 2-year-old Jedidiah Cabezuela died and three other children were sick from Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli.
Fair officials immediately closed public access to all animal areas, including the petting zoo, at the livestock barn on the eastern side of the Del Mar Fairgrounds as a precautionary measure while the source of the E. coli is investigated.
County health officials say they expect to see more cases of E. coli from the fair, even though the fair closed Thursday, in the coming days as the incubation period for the bacteria is up to 10 days from exposure.
“This isn’t unusual for a public health investigation," interim deputy county public health officer Dr. Dean Sidlinger said. "We have asked local doctors to be on the lookout for symptoms of STEC.”
Symptoms of E. coli include severe abdominal cramping, watery or bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Symptoms may also occur with or without a fever.
