State and county health officials in Arizona had conclusive genetic evidence in mid-November linking a dangerous E. coli outbreak to the Arizona State Fair’s petting zoo, but did not confirm this connection to the public until early January, newly obtained records show. The outbreak, which sickened at least 18 people—most of them children—and led to several hospitalizations with life-threatening kidney complications, has sparked criticism from parents, food safety advocates, and a former state health director who call the illnesses “preventable.”
According to one local paper, at least 11 cases tied to the outbreak shared an identical genetic fingerprint. This genome sequencing technology provides near-certain proof that victims were sickened by the same strain of bacteria from the same source. The test results, primarily dated November 13, came weeks before the Maricopa County Department of Public Health officially closed its investigation and confirmed the fair’s petting zoo as the source on January 6.
The Arizona Department of Health Services reported a statewide “twofold increase” in E. coli cases in October but has yet to publicly acknowledge the fair’s connection to the outbreak, deferring to the county as the lead agency.
According to national E. coli lawyer Ron Simon, who represented the family of the young boy who died of E. coil in the 2019 San Diego Fair e. coli outbreak, “this is a tragedy – one of the families I represent in this Arizona State Fair Petting Zoo E. coli outbreak was hospitalized for 21 days. He and his family are lucky he is alive. And what’s more, this was entirely preventable.”
A Preventable Failure: Missing Safeguards at the Petting Zoo
The investigation reveals that a critical, basic safety measure was absent at the popular fair attraction. A key finding by The Arizona Republic was that there were no hand-washing stations with soap and running water attached to the petting exhibit itself. Only hand sanitizer was available, which is not effective against all strains of E. coli. Proper handwashing with soap and running water is the single most recommended practice to prevent illness after animal contact, as bacteria are physically washed away.
This absence marks a stark departure from past safety protocols described by Will Humble, the former director of the Arizona Department of Health Services. In a December blog post, Humble explained that for years, it was standard practice for state health staff to visit the fair before opening day to ensure basic protections were in place. These included barriers to control visitor flow, limits on the number of children in the animal area, and, crucially, hand-washing sinks with running water, soap, and paper towels at both the entrance and exit of the petting zoo, monitored by staff.
“The 2025 outbreak demonstrates that Arizona can’t rely on safety practices that disappear when health department leadership changes,” Humble wrote, calling the outbreak “preventable.” He noted that while the department had no formal licensing power over petting zoos, the State Fair had historically welcomed and followed their recommendations.
When asked about current protocols, State Fair officials presented a different account. Brianda Martinez, a fair spokesperson, stated that protocols “remained unchanged from previous years.” She acknowledged that while there were hand-washing stations and restrooms inside the agriculture building that housed the petting zoo, they were not a dedicated part of the exhibit. Martinez confirmed the fair does not typically work with the state health department unless a specific need arises. The petting zoo was operated by a Texas-based company called Great American Entertainment, which has run the attraction for at least 15 years. The company did not respond to requests for comment.
A Call for Legislation and a Company’s History
The outbreak has prompted a direct political response. Arizona State Sen. John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills) has proposed new petting zoo safety laws in response to the incident. Senate Bill 1082 would require handwashing or sanitizing stations at any public animal contact exhibit, along with warning signs and constant adult supervision. The bill would also grant the Arizona Department of Health Services inspection and enforcement authority over such exhibits, including the ability to issue fines.
The legislation highlights a regulatory gap. Currently, no state agency has clear oversight or licensing authority for temporary petting zoos at events like the fair, relying instead on voluntary cooperation. Kavanagh’s proposal seeks to codify the simple, effective steps that Humble said were once standard practice.
The operator of the petting zoo, Great American Entertainment, has a history connected to a previous E. coli outbreak. Public records show the company was involved in a 2005 outbreak at a fair in Fresno, California, that left six children hospitalized. One 2-year-old victim developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)—the same kidney complication seen in Arizona—which led to kidney failure, strokes, blindness in one eye, and lasting difficulty walking.
The Human Toll and the Science of STEC
The medical reality behind the outbreak is severe. The strain involved, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), is notorious for causing more than just vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and cramps. In a significant number of cases, particularly in young children, the toxin enters the bloodstream and attacks the kidneys and blood cells, leading to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). State health officials acknowledged an increase in HUS hospitalizations concurrent with the rise in E. coli cases last fall.
As the investigation continued, genetic evidence finally confirmed the source (genetic testing is considered the gold standard in modern epidemiology). Genome sequencing allows scientists to map the entire DNA of the bacteria from each patient. When the sequences are identical, it confirms a common source with extremely high certainty.
Accountability and the Path Forward
The outbreak’s first public warning did not come from health authorities but from a nonprofit. The Tennessee-based group Parker’s Promise, which supports families affected by HUS, was contacted in early November by parents at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Mary McGonigle-Martin, the group’s vice president, argued that withholding source information during an outbreak puts lives at risk, as people remain unaware of how to protect themselves.
The Arizona Department of Health Services has defended its communication. In December, spokesperson JP Martin said the department “categorically disagrees” with any suggestion officials “withheld critical information from the public,” justifying the approach based on a perceived lack of “ongoing risk” after the fair ended. The Maricopa County Department of Public Health, which led the investigation, stated it was closed as of January 6, with 18 confirmed or probable cases, 16 of whom were children. County spokesperson Courtney Kreuzwiesner said 13 of the 18 cases reported attending the Arizona State Fair.
For the fair’s part, spokesperson Brianda Martinez said the outbreak “will definitely factor into our discussions regarding all programming for 2026.” Meanwhile, families are left dealing with the aftermath. As Sommer Lee simply stated, her daughter was just trying to enjoy a classic fair experience. The failure of basic, known precautions turned that experience into a medical crisis, raising urgent questions about responsibility and regulation that Arizona lawmakers are now compelled to address.
Analysis & Next Steps
The Arizona outbreak reveals a critical tension in public health between scientific certainty and public communication. What’s new and highly significant is the timeline: genetic science provided definitive answers in mid-November, but a public confirmation lagged for weeks. This delay matters because it affects public trust and transparency. When people are not informed of clear risks, they cannot make informed decisions, and the credibility of health agencies suffers. The affected are not just the hospitalized children and their traumatized families, but also the broader public, whose confidence in health oversight is undermined.
The investigation underscores that this was a preventable failure of basic hygiene infrastructure, not an unforeseeable accident. The absence of soap-and-water handwashing stations at a petting zoo ignores decades of established public health guidance and known best practices. The fact that the operating company was involved in a nearly identical outbreak 20 years ago suggests a troubling pattern where lessons are not learned across the industry.
Moving forward, several steps are essential. First, Senator Kavanagh’s proposed legislation represents a concrete effort to close the regulatory gap and mandate minimum safety standards, including proper handwashing facilities. Second, health agencies must review their communication protocols to balance investigative rigor with the public’s right to know about active threats. Finally, event organizers and operators must be held to a higher standard of accountability, recognizing that interactive animal exhibits carry a well-documented and serious risk that requires constant, diligent mitigation. The goal is simple: to ensure a day at the fair remains a fond memory, not a life-threatening ordeal.
