Two children have been hospitalized with kidney failure following a severe bacterial infection that has been linked to visits to the same petting zoo in Melbourne. One child, a three-year-old, has been in intensive care for four weeks and sustained permanent brain damage, while doctors are considering the need for a kidney transplant. A second child, aged two, spent 17 days on dialysis after falling seriously ill.
The cases coincide with a rise in Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections across Victoria, with over 160 cases recorded this year. STEC infections can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can cause sudden kidney failure.
STEC bacteria are carried in the digestive tracts of animals and can spread to humans through contact with contaminated feces. Symptoms of infection include bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
One mother reported that her two-year-old son became severely ill after a visit to the farm in May, initially believed to be gastrointestinal illness. After observing blood in his stool, she took him to Frankston Hospital, where tests confirmed HUS. He underwent 17 days of dialysis and received two blood transfusions before recovering.
The other child's illness has resulted in brain complications, and their kidney function has not yet recovered, leaving their family uncertain about the need for a transplant. The mother of the recovered child suggested that petting farms should provide clearer information regarding infection risks.
Victoria's Department of Health has advised the petting farm to implement additional handwashing stations and display warnings about potential infection risks. Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr. Clare Looker stated that the department investigates all reported HUS cases to identify infection sources and prevent further occurrences. Dr. Looker also noted that an increase in STEC/VTEC notifications is partly due to improved testing and reporting practices, and that these infections can occasionally lead to HUS, particularly in young children and immunocompromised individuals.