Dallas E. coli cases linked to State Fair of Texas

The State Fair of Texas 2026 has wrapped up, but the Dallas County Health Department is investigating if a cluster of E. coli cases came from its petting zoo. County health officials confirm a visit to the fair has been a consistent story among some of the recent cases. I'm not sure if I can call it outbreak yet, but like a cluster of cases we need to investigate. Children's Medical Center Dallas says it's seen an uptick in cases stemming from a strain of the bacteria which is known as Shiga toxin producing E. coli, in the month of October. Symptoms start out with bloody stool and vomiting. The patients are infected orally from contaminated food or water or other infected animals. Kids usually are left on top of not bringing their hands to their face and to their mouth and not washing hands. Seven-year-old Lily Rogers of Fayette loves playing in the backyard with her sisters. It's a sight her family is grateful to see after a 45-day fight last year. So we went to a petting zoo on April 19th in 2025, and then five days later she started having symptoms. Although it's not connected to the current cases, Lily was infected with a Shiga toxin strain of E. coli. She had a further complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS. On a ventilator at Children's Dallas, her kidneys were failing and part of her colon removed. Just sobbing in the bathroom, you know, like, please God, don't take my baby, you know. A rollercoaster of emotions and questions from the Rogers family. We're just happy to get her out of that room. A year and a half later, Lily in the first grade. Her kidney function is only at 36%, and she's on several medications. I literally would write down all of her lab numbers. Rogers, with a message to other parents, now facing the same fear. I know the nightmare. I know those hallways too well. Just don't lose hope. Keep believing. Keep the faith.