Clark County, WA Warns of Possible E coli O157 Risk
A child who recently tested positive for E. coli O157:H7 attended a supervised play area at Lake Shore Athletic Club near Vancouver, Washington while possibly contagious. Clark County Public Health and Lake Shore managers are asking parents to watch for symptoms among children who visited the play area between July 10 and August 4.
Clark county health officials continue to work with Lake Shore management to contain the situation and eliminate any risk of additional exposures. The child’s positive test for E. coli was reported to Public Health by a clinical laboratory. The original source of the infection is not known. In a continuing investigation, Public Health is contacting people who may have been exposed at the athletic club or at other locations visited by the infected child or others who have reported symptoms possibly related to the incident.
To date, there are 30 probable cases of E coli O157 in the area that are associated with Lake Shore Athletic Club. Four of the probable cases are staff members of the athletic club and 28 are children who attended the supervised child care center.
Children who contract E coli O157:H7 infections are at risk for developing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS-E coli), a severe illness that causes kidney failure, brain damage and death. Clark county officials recommend that children with symptoms of an E coli infection should see a health care provider immediately. In addition, their parents should contact Public Health at (360) 397-8022. The initial symptoms of an E coli O157:H7 infection include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea that may be bloody.
Colorado E. coli Outbreak at Little Sailors Daycare
Little Sailors Child Development in Northglenn, Colorado is the center of an E. coli outbreak in which 14 people are sick, local news sources report.
Children exhibiting E. coli symptoms are being kept apart from others. “The reason we’re not sending them home is because we don’t want the parents to take them to a different child-care setting and spread the disease around,” the day care owner says.
Thirteen children and one adult are sick in this outbreak so far. “It appears less severe,” said Richard Vogt, M.D., with the Tri-County Health Department. “We have to see how this plays out.” The source of the outbreak has not yet been determined.
E. coli Investigation Closes Ellensburg, Washington Day Care Facilities
The Kittitas County Public Health Department has temporarily shut down two day cares in Ellensburg, Washington, Creative Kids Learning Center and Little Tot Town, because two children who attend the day cares have suspected E. coli infections, reports The Yakima Herald . According to health officials, a third child, a 5-year-old from Ellensburg, was hospitalized with a laboratory-confirmed E. coli infection. The 5-year-old is not related to the other two children, who are siblings. Health officials are investigating whether the three had contact with one another.
Children from the two day care facilities won’t be allowed to attend any day care center until they pass two tests showing they are free of E. coli.
In April, an E. coli outbreak at a day care in Vancouver, Washington resulted in the hospitalization of 4 children, one of whom died. Pritzker Olsen law firm is representing the family of the child who died.
Vancouver Daycare Closes After Child’s E. coli Death
After a 4-year-old Vancouver boy died of E. coli poisoning, the home daycare center he attended has had its license permanently revoked by Washington state health officials, according to the Columbian.
The boy became sick with the life-threatening E. coli O157:H7 pathogen in April. After being rushed to the hospital with bloody diarrhea–a strong sign of an Ecoli infection–the deadly bacteria attacked his kidneys and colon. He was put on dialysis and died after spending a week in a Portland hospital.
In addition to the one E coli death there were 13 cases of E. coli poisoning related to this outbreak, according to county health officials. Three others were hospitalized but recovered and 10 more people tested positive for the pathogen but had only mild E. coli symptoms. The owners of the day care, who have operated it for about 20 years, say they plan to appeal the state’s revocation of the license. Health officials told local news sources that the license was being revoked for several reasons:
- The daycare owners waited too long before reporting child illnesses to the county health department
- The daycare did not follow state-regulated diapering procedures
- The daycare lacked sufficient records for one of the children who attended
- A previous citation was on record for operating over the capacity for which they were licensed, which was only 12 children
Health officials have said the infection was most likely spread by person-to-person contact and that it was not a case of foodborne illness.
KinderCare Learning Center E. coli Outbreak
By Kathy Will
An E. coli outbreak at the KinderCare Learning Center in the Village of Lemont, Illinois has led to 22 confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7: 21 of the cases are children and one is an adult worker. Three of the children who were sickened in the outbreak were hospitalized, but they have since been released, according to the Southtown Star. The newspaper said the outbreak was associated with a “lack of handwashing.”
Preschools and daycare centers are responsible for maintaining a clean and sanitary facility. Although there are a number of different ways E. coli can spread, the underlying source is feces. Only a very small amount (100-200 bacterium) of E. coli O157:H7 is needed to cause disease.
“Because young children often put their hands and toys in their mouths, preschools and daycare centers can quickly become hot zones for E. coli. Daycares and preschools should know this and take affirmative steps to prevent the spread of E. coli,” stated Fred Pritzker, nationally-recognized food safety lawyer.
The best way for day care workers to prevent the spread of E. coli O157:H7 is to wash their hands. E. coli bacteria can easily hide under a fingernail or anywhere on the hand that was not thoroughly washed with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. It is especially important that day care workers wash their hands after using the restroom and changing a diaper. It is also important for daycare workers to wash their hands before preparing food and feeding a child.
Other basic sanitation measures that preschools and daycares are expected to maintain include the following: 1) clean and disinfect diapering area and potty chairs after each use; 2) clean toilets, sinks and toys at least daily; 3) cook all hamburger and ground beef until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit; 4) do not allow children to drink unpasteurized milk or fruit juices; 5) wash and disinfect all cutting boards, knives, utensils and dishes that have been used for raw meat or poultry before using them with fresh produce and other uncooked foods; and 6) do not let children serve or prepare food for other children.
PritzkerOlsen, P.A. is a nationally-recognized food safety law firm. Attorney Fred Pritzker has appeared on CNN, CBS News, Fox News the associated press and other news media.
