4 children confirmed to have E. coli, 2 more sick after Whatcom County dairy festival

LYNDEN, Wash. (AP) — Health officials say four school children have lab-confirmed cases of E. coli and two others have E. coli symptoms after attending a Whatcom County dairy festival last week.

The Bellingham Herald reports (http://is.gd/sA3OLy ) that more than 1,000 elementary school pupils attended the Milk Makers Fest at the Lynden fairgrounds.

Greg Stern with the Whatcom County Health Department says two children have been hospitalized. Their conditions weren't known late Tuesday.

Those sickened by E. coli bacteria can develop symptoms including severe stomach cramps, often-bloody diarrhea and vomiting.

The health department is trying to determine a specific source of the illness. Stern says the main sources are contaminated food, contaminated water and contact with livestock.

The festival was sponsored by the Whatcom County Dairy Women. It introduced young students to farming and gave them a chance to pet farm animals, including small horses, sheep, rabbits, chickens and a calf.


Officials encouraged parents of any child who visited the festival and develop diarrhea before May 1 to take the child to a doctor.