Lot's of E. coli Found Down on the Godstone Farm Near Surrey

Posted by E. coli Lawyer on September 22, 2009

The UK's Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) has tested feces from lambs, pigs, goats, cattle, ponies and rabbits at Godstone Farm near Surrey and found the dangerous E. coli O157:H7 strain in 33 of 102 samples. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) called in VLA.

"Joint HPA and VLA investigations have confirmed the presence of E. coli O157:H7 bacteria in feces from a wide range of animals on a premise in Surrey," said Nigel Gibbens, chief veterinary officer.

The number of children infected with E. coli O157:H7 while visiting Godstone Farm has increased to 67. According to BBC News, eight children remain in hospitals across Southeast England "in stable or improving conditions."

The injured are now coming forward to take legal action. Claims will be filed totaling hundreds of thousands of pounds, according to lawyers for the various families. "It is not simply about financial compensation, although that is a part of it," said Solicitor Jill Greenfield, who represents an unnamed young girl. "Some of these children could have long term medical conditions for which they will need financial compensation."

"But it's far too early to tell with any of them because E. coli is a bit of a slow burner," Solicitor Greenfield continued. "So at the moment it's about establishing what happened, establishing the facts and finding out why so many children ended up in the hospital with E. coli."

After controversy erupted over how long it took to close Godstone Farm to the public, three other farms with petting zoos have closed. Horton Park Children's Farm in Epsom, which is under the same ownership as Godstone Farm; White Post Farm in Nottinghamshire; and World Country Life Farm in Exmouth, Devon are now all shut down.

HPA, the leading investigator in the UK, believes the outbreak began on Aug. 8 at Godstone Farm. Godstone Farm closed Sept. 12th. Critics say the HPA allowed the petting zoo to remain open far too long.

All 67 cases in the outbreak are linked to Godstone Farm. Horton Park, its sister zoo, was closed down for "unsatisfactory" hygiene facilities. No illnesses are yet associated with Horton Park.

A Petting Farm Sends Children To Hospitals Across South East England

Posted by E. coli Attorney on September 12, 2009

South East England hospitals are caring for a dozen children with infections from the dangerous E. coli O157:H7 bacteria that they picked up at a popular petting farm near Surrey. All are under age 10.

All totaled health officials in the United Kingdom (UK) say 36 people were exposed to the bacteria, which was traced to the Godstone Farm & Playbarn, which allows children to touch animals.

Four of the E. coli victims are reported to be in serious condition.

Professor Hugh Pennington, who has led investigations of past E. coli outbreaks in the UK, said this is “a very large outbreak” and E. coli O157:H7 can be “quite dangerous” for young children because some will suffer complications to the brain, heart, and kidneys.”

UK health officials got the farm to close on Sept. 12th after measures to stem infections failed to halt the outbreak. Godstone Farm, which has up to 2,000 visitors a day, issued this statement on its website:

“Due to an E-coli outbreak, we have closed the farm until we can make sure it is quite safe for you all to visit us. “

“This is large outbreak of this infection,” said Dr. Angela Iverson, director of the local Health Protection Unit. She said the farm owners were cooperating with the investigation.

E. coli O157:H7 is an infection that people can pick up when handling or stroking animals, unless hands are thoroughly washing afterwards to minimize the risk,” Iverson said. “It can also spread easily from person-to-person.”

Children infected with E. coli O157:H7 will suffer from bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal pain and tenderness with no fever. Hospital laboratories confirm the diagnosis from stool samples.
More serious infections, however, can develop into a kidney disease known as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). It is a severe, life-threatening complication that occurs in about 10 -15 percent of those infected with E. coli O157:H7.

"The kidney complications can be quite severe, resulting in long-term damage in some instances," Professor Pennington said.

Surrey and Sussex Health Protection Units are working with local environmental health officers and the Veterinary Laboratory Agency in the outbreak investigation. The initial onset of illnesses apparently occurred Aug. 8th.

Appalachian Fair Possible Source of Eastern Tennessee E. Coli Illnesses

Posted by E. coli Lawyer on September 10, 2009

Eastern Tennessee's Appalachian Fair is the suspected source of the E. coli O157:H7 infections in two children.

The Johnson City Medical Center is reporting that two children are being treated in the hospital with infections of the deadly bacteria.

A week ago, doctors found four-year-old Gage Peterson has E. coli. Three week prior to Peterson’s admission, another child came into the hospital with E. coli. That child is now in the pediatric ICU.

The Tennessee Health Department has yet to identify the source of Peterson’s infection, but family members say he may have contracted it while looking at cows at the Appalachian Fair.

The E. coli bacteria thrives in the intestinal tracts of cattle, pigs and goats and released through bowl movements.

Jane Majeska vs Dole, Natural Selection Foods, Mission Organics and Pic-n-Save

Posted by E. coli Lawyer on September 06, 2009

The 2006 outbreak of E. coli tied to spinach sickened more than 205 people nationwide, many gravely. More than 31 developed Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) and five lost their lives.

One of the most critically ill was Jane Majeska of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, an 85-year old woman whose fight to stay alive in the months after she consumed the Dole E. coli O157:H7-tainted spinach cost almost a $500,000 dollars. William Marler of the Seattle-based foodborne illness law firm Marler Clark, along with the Fond du Lac firm of Sager, Colwin Samuelsen, this past week filed a lawsuit  in the Fond du Lac branch of the Wisconsin Circuit Court against Dole, Natural Selection Foods, Mission Organics and Pic-n-Save.

“This amazing woman fought through serious medical traumas and has continued to fight to win back her health,” said Marler. “Jane Majeska is alive today because she was incredibly healthy and active before she ate contaminated food, because she had tremendous medical care, and because she fought every hour of every day to get better,” continued Marler. “No one should have to go through that, but if they do, they certainly shouldn’t have to sue to be compensated for it. But sometimes, that’s what it takes.”

Jane Majeska ate Dole spinach in late August 2006. Within days, she was experiencing nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea that became bloody. She was admitted to the hospital as her kidneys failed and she was diagnosed with HUS. Her months in the hospital were marked by increasingly invasive procedures to address her cascading illnesses. In addition to renal failure, she experienced stroke, cognitive impairment, a collapsed lung, a pulmonary embolism, and the inability to eat or breathe on her own. She was given dialysis, blood transfusions, plasmapheresis, and survived on a feeding tube and ventilator. Even as she began to improve, she required aggressive physical, occupational, and speech therapy, as well as rehabilitation nursing.

Although E. coli outbreaks are often associated with meat, produce-borne outbreaks have become more frequent in recent years. The Center for Science in the Public Interest noted that fully 25 percent of E. coli outbreaks from 1990-1998 were traced to produce. Data from the Centers for Disease Control show that over the last 12 years, twenty-two E. coli outbreaks have been traced specifically to leafy greens.

The Washington Post Tells The Linda Rivera Story--Giving Context to Issue of Food Safety

Posted by E. coli Lawyer on September 01, 2009

"People just don't really understand how horrible food-borne illness is," said William Marler, a prominent Seattle-based food-safety lawyer who is representing the Rivera family and 23 other victims in the cookie dough outbreak. "They think food-borne illness is a tummy ache and diarrhea."

That quote from Mr. Marler is found today in a story that is all too rare--one from the perspective of the most seriously injured by food-borne illness.
It is the story of Linda Rivera, who ate Nestle cookie dough contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 and developed the life-threatening Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). She has spent about 120 in hospitals since eating the cookie dough last May, more than any of the Nestle victims.

Read the entire story by clicking on the headline below.
 

– “This Woman Might Die From Eating Cookie Dough - Severe Case Gives Context to Issue of Food Safety” 

 

Richard cares for wife Linda Rivera.