The State Division of Public Health is investigating several cases of E. coli that appear to have loose implications to the NC State Fair. NC Ag Commissioner Steve Troxler says that he, along with everyone else at NCDA want the answers as to the origin of the contagen, whether the State Fair ends up being the source or not.
Commissioner Troxler says that many lessons were learned from the 2004 outbreak, ultimately linked to a petting zoo for children at the State Fair. At the exhibits where people can have contact with animals, there is fencing separating animals and their bedding from people, the rules also prohibit food and drink and other items in animal contact areas, and there are now hand-washing stations near every animal contact area, as well as signage warning of the risks of contact with animals.
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