Updated September 3, 2026 — 2:23pm,first published 1:31pmA three-year-old girl has died after visiting a Victorian petting farm and contracting an infection that caused kidney failure and permanent brain damage.The toddler spent six weeks in the Monash Children’s Hospital intensive care unit after developing a rare condition called haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), which is caused by a type of bacteria that lives in the guts of many farm animals.A toddler has died from a deadly infection. Her parents confirmed the tragic news in a statement on crowdfunding platform GoFundMe, saying their courageous and strong daughter had fought until the end.“We’ve lost our darling girl,” they wrote.“It’s difficult to find words to express the depths of darkness and what has occurred over the last seven weeks. The unknowns. The uncertainty. The turbulence. Fear. So many tears.”This masthead revealed last month that two toddlers had developed the rare condition after visiting the same petting farm in Victoria. A two-year-old boy was treated in the same intensive care unit in May after visiting the same petting farm. That child was placed on dialysis for 17 days and made a full recovery.The parents of the toddler who died said the illness was likely caused by a bacterial infection, possibly contracted from a farm where she held, rode and petted animals.“There are no official treatments as such for HUS,” they wrote. “The treatment is about supporting the body, and time.”The bacteria is spread through contact with the waste of infected animals and can cause bloody diarrhoea and lead to kidney failure.The parents said their daughter had also tested positive for RSV and parainfluenza in the days after being admitted to hospital.The Age has chosen not to name the farm, as health experts have said the bacteria is present in most farms and there is no evidence this one has acted inappropriately.It is understood that an investigation by local health authorities cleared the farm of any wrongdoing.Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Clare Looker said on Thursday that the department had not identified a common source for the reported HUS cases.She said the bacteria that caused the condition was very common in the environment, making it difficult to pinpoint the origin.Looker said restricting access to petting farms would not remove the risk for children.“Making a broad statement about the safety of petting zoos wouldn’t remove this risk for children, so I’d be reluctant to prevent people from having all the benefits,” she said.“Every family has to make their own decisions about risk.”Local health authorities advised the farm to increase handwashing stations and to display a sign at its entrance warning of the risk of infection and the importance of handwashing. Visitors have been advised not to bring any dummies, toys or prams into the calf pen.“I don’t think that shutting a single farm that is taking all the right public health protective measures would stop the risk for children in the community,” Looker said.There have been 179 cases of Shiga toxin-producing E.coli, or STEC, (the bacteria that causes the rare condition), recorded in Victoria this year. This compares with 158 cases at the same time last year.Health experts say the increase in recorded STEC cases is linked to improved testing and reporting practices.Premier Ben Carroll said on Thursday that his thoughts were with the family of the young girl who died.“This is horrific that a young person has lost their life,” he said. “I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family. I can’t imagine what they’re going through.”HUS is often triggered by the Shiga toxin entering a person’s blood and creating small blood clots that block the kidneys, causing them to “shut off”.Parents should seek medical attention if their children have pus or blood in their stools, reduced urine output, lethargy, pale lips or small dots on their skin. Children under the age of five, as well as those with a suppressed immune system, are particularly susceptible.Transmission occurs through exposure to animals, particularly cattle, and by eating undercooked meat and drinking unpasteurised milk.To prevent infection, children’s hands should be washed after any contact with animals, ideally with soap and water. Meat should be thoroughly cooked, and fruit and vegetables should be washed before consumption.In 2014, a three-year-old Victorian boy died from organ failure after consuming raw, unpasteurised milk that contained STEC.Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.Henrietta Cook is a senior reporter covering health for The Age. Henrietta joined The Age in 2012 and has previously covered state politics, education and consumer affairs. Email her via henrietta.cook@theage.com.au or henrietta.cook@protonmail.comConnect via X, Facebook or email.From our partners