The Supreme Court of British Columbia ruled Vancouver Coastal Health is not required to reveal the names of individuals who allegedly contracted E. coli at a PNE petting zoo, the Vancouver Sun reports. Three plaintiffs filed a lawsuit where they claim the zoo, Vancouver Coastal Health and local government failed to take the proper steps to stop the transmission of the disease, which ultimately affected 13 people. British Columbia Supreme Court Master Shelagh Scarth wrote in her ruling that sections of the B.C. Public Health Act allow health care organizations to gather personal information in matters of public health as long as the data remains confidential. Scarth wrote the plaintiffs’ arguments did not meet the level of an acceptable exception under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
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