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.
Montclair Meat Ground Beef Tainted With E. coli O157:H7
More than 50,000 pounds of potentially E. coli-tainted ground beef products are being recalled by Montclair Meat Co., Inc, of Montclair, California, according to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
The E coli ground beef recall involves packages with the establishment number “Est. 6116″ on the label and the meat was produced between May 3 and May 13, 2010. The ground beef products were distributed to retailers and government establishments for further processing in the Los Angeles area. The products include:
- Various pound packages of “MONTCLAIR MEAT CO. GROUND BEEF”
- Various pound packages of “MONTCLAIR MEAT CO. ALL BEEF PATTIES”
FSIS discovered the E. coli O157:H7 contamination in the meat through microbiological sampling. More detailed retail and distribution information will be posted here, if and when it becomes available.
E. coli is a serious foodborne illness that can cause serious gastrointestinal symptoms including severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. It can develop into more serious complications including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause kidney failure and other serious, ongoing medical conditions. The food poisoning attorneys at Pritzker Olsen law firm have extensive experience representing victims of serious foodborne illnesses including E. coli O147:H7 and E. coli HUS. If you or a loved one suspect you’ve contracted and E. coli infection, be sure to visit the doctor and ask to be tested for that specific pathogen. Those sickened by foodborne illness may have a legal case against the food producers, distributors and others.
Raw Milk E. Coli Threat Ignored in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Assembly early this morning passed a bill legalizing the sale of raw milk for public consumption.
The 60-35 vote overrode serious health concerns raised by the state’s own disease experts, pediatricians, food safety groups and farm bureau. County health investigators from around the state had testified about the dangers such a law would pose — increasing the public’s exposure to toxic micro-organisms.
E. coli O157:H7 is one of the threats that will lurk in the commercial trade of raw milk because pasteurization is required to kill the pathogen, which can be expressed through a cow’s udders but also can contaminate milk supplies via the incidental spread of cow feces in milking environments.
Campylobacter and Salmonella can also contaminate raw milk in this way and outbreaks of these illnesses have happened already this year in several states, including Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Pennsylvania.
Rep. Andy Jorgensen (D-Fort Atkinson) told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that he opposed the bill because the public currently sees the state’s signature product as “delicious, nutritious and safe.”
“I don’t want to tarnish that,” Jorgensen said.
Under the legislation, sales could take place only at farms where the milk was produced. The bill would sunset on Dec. 31, 2011. Farmers would have to post a sign declaring that raw milk may contain organisms that cause disease.
The bill, a similar version of which was previously passed by the state Senate, also would have to say that raw milk is not recommended for certain people, including the very young and very old, women who are pregnant or nursing, and individuals with diabetes or compromised immune systems.
E. coli from 750 Cows Pollutes River
A lagoon holding manure from 750 dairy cows broke and dumped millions of gallons of waste laden with E. coli O157:H7 into the Snowhomish River near Snohomish, Washington.
Quoting the Washington State Department of Agriculture, KING5-TV attributed the spill to a breached lagoon wall on the Bartelheimer Brothers dairy operation.
The state Department of Health is closely monitoring the problem, but there appeared to be no immediate threat to public drinking water systems, the station reported. People in the area with private wells are advised to consult with the health department about potential risks.
The lagoon is only 12 years old. It was built to hold 21 million gallons of manure and 10 feet of the 15-foot-deep facility was above ground level. All contents above ground level spilled out, according to the report.
Officials are monitoring the river and an accompanying slough to track harm to fish populations and people are being urged to stay away from the river to avoid E. coli poisoning.
USDA Should Ban More Types of Shiga-Toxin E. coli From Meat
Dana Boner lost her 14-year-old daughter to E. coli O111 in 2007.
Now she is a member of Chicago-based S.T.O.P.-Safe Tables Our Priority, which is renewing its plea to the USDA to declare disease-causing E. coli types other than E. coli O157:H7 as adulterants in beef and begin testing for them. National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen and many other supporters of S.T.O.P. have made the same request.
The USDA declared E. coli O157:H7 an adulterant in ground beef in 1994 in the aftermath of a west coast outbreak that sickened over 700 people and killed at least 4. Adulterant status makes it illegal to sell contaminated product — knowingly or unknowingly. With it comes an obligation to test for the pathogen.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified 6 additional strains of shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) — O26, O111, O103, O121, O45 and O145 — that are associated with severe illness and death. Shiga-toxin — whether it comes from the O157:H7 bug or any other bug attacks red blood cells with the same life-threatening result.
Just like E. coli O157:H7, these other STEC strains are found in cattle and get into our beef supply when feces contaminate the meat during slaughter and processing. The powerful toxin, which has no antidote, can lead to renal failure, cause strokes, damage neuro systems and create heart problems. It leads to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), two life-threatening complications of STEC infection.
“You can’t find what you’re not looking for and USDA needs to start actively looking for these pathogens,” Dana said in a press release issued by S.T.O.P. ”It’s too late for Kayla, but not too late for others.”
Nancy Donley, S.T.O.P.’s President, whose 6-year-old son died from E. coli O157:H7-contaminated ground beef, said that in 2007 and 2008 USDA had public meetings on this issue, but failed to enact any prevention-based strategy. Instead, USDA declared that it would first conduct testing of ground beef and components to determine the extent of non-O157 STEC and implement a regulatory program if needed.
“While S.T.O.P. has no objection to conducting a baseline study, we object to holding up declaring these additional E. coli strains as adulterants in beef,” Donley said.
