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The outbreak was traced to a building that housed animals during the state fair

27 people were sickened during the fair; two of them remain hospitalized

CNN  — 

The source of an E. coli outbreak that sickened dozens of people last month is a building that housed animals at the North Carolina State Fair, state public health officials said Thursday.

Twenty-seven people were sickened after attending the fair in October, said Public Information Officer Julie Henry of the North Carolina Division of Public Health.

About half of those who became ill are children, two of whom remained hospitalized Thursday, she said.