Jordan McNair most severely injured thus far.

Diane Turbyfill of the Shelby Star tells a story that has become a yearly occurrence and an all too common one.  Spend time on www.fair-safety.com to remind yourself.

Health officials say they’ve now identified at least 13 people who turned ill in an E. coli outbreak connected to the Cleveland County Fair.  Eight of the identified ill residents are from Cleveland County, with one from Lincoln and four from Gaston. All of the patients visited the fair between Sept. 26 and Oct. 7, health officials said.

The ages of those infected range from 2 to 51.

Test samples have been sent to the state health department to confirm initial doctors office test results, said Chris Dobbins, Gaston County health director.  None of the patients from Cleveland County had to be hospitalized, according to health officials, but all four Gaston patients visited hospitals.

The most serious E. coli case appears to be that of a 12-year-old Gaston County boy, Jordan McNair, who was admitted into Gaston Memorial Hospital on October 3 and later transferred to Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte.  Jordan has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome.