Victorian girl dies from rare STEC complication after petting zoo visit

A Victorian girl has died from haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), a rare complication of an STEC bacterial infection her family says she may have contracted at a petting zoo. The death was confirmed by health officials on Thursday. Deputy Chief Health Officer Clare Looker called such cases "very, very rare," with only one to five reported in Victoria annually. Two HUS cases have been recorded this year with no common cause identified, though petting zoos were investigated and risk-assessed. The girl spent six weeks in intensive care before dying on August 31. Victoria has seen 179 STEC notifications this year, up from 158 last year, which officials attribute to improved testing. Premier Ben Carroll extended condolences to the family.