Toddler Dies After Farm Visit: HUS Infection Claims Young Life

A three-year-old girl has died after contracting a serious infection at a Victorian petting farm, leading to kidney failure and permanent brain damage. The child spent six weeks in intensive care battling haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), a rare condition caused by E.coli bacteria commonly found in farm animals.

This tragedy follows another incident where a two-year-old boy contracted the same infection at the same farm but recovered after dialysis. Health authorities are investigating the rise in Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC) cases in Victoria, with over 160 recorded this year already.

While the specific farm has been cleared of wrongdoing, health advice includes increased handwashing stations and warning signs. HUS is particularly dangerous for children under five and those with weakened immune systems, and is spread through animal contact or consumption of contaminated food and drink.

Parents are urged to seek medical attention if children exhibit symptoms like bloody diarrhea or reduced urine output. This case echoes a 2014 incident where a Victorian boy died from STEC after consuming unpasteurised milk.