DHHS had collected environmental specimens from several areas at the N.C. State Fair, and determined that the Crossroads Farm Petting Zoo site had a high number of positive specimens for E. coli O157:H7. Nineteen of thirty specimens obtained from this area were positive for E. coli, and the PFGE pattern, or genetic fingerprint, of the bacteria matched the pattern seen from 33 case-patients’ cultures.
Marler Clark’s E. coli lawyers commenced litigation against Crossroads Farm Petting Zoo on December 17, 2004 by filing a lawsuit on behalf of four children who became ill with E. coli infections. The case against Crossroads has been resolved. Litigation against the State of North Carolina is still pending.
PRESS RELEASES:Lawsuit filed against Crossroads Farm on behalf of four E. coli victims
You can read more about the Crossroad Farm E. coli outbreak at the North Carolina State Fair on the Marler Clark-sponsored site about E. coli.