E. coli kills 1 child, sickens 3 at Wash. day care
The front yard of Washington state day care center, where a recent outbreak of a potentially deadly strain of E. coli has killed one child and sickened three other children, health officials said Friday. (April 9, 2010) Credit: AP
VANCOUVER, Wash. — A recent outbreak of a potentially deadly strain of E. coli at a Washington state day care center has killed one child and sickened three other children, health officials said Friday.
The child who died was a 4-year-old boy, said Elizabeth Winter of the Washington state Department of Early Learning. The department was notified of his death on Friday, she said.
The boy was hospitalized on March 19 after he was struck by the E. coli O157:H7 bacteria, said Dr. Alan Melnick, the health officer for Clark County, Wash. The other three children were hospitalized soon afterward and have since been released, he said.
Melnick wouldn't provide any further details on the child who died.
County public health officials temporarily closed the home-based, licensed day care center operated by Dianne and Larry Fletch on April 2.
The Vancouver day care has operated since 1990 and no complaints have been filed against it, Winter said. It has about 22 child attendees, Melnick told reporters.
Health officials said they don't know the precise source of the outbreak. But they said it didn't appear related to food, water or another single source.
E. coli is a common and ordinarily harmless bacteria, but certain strains can cause abdominal cramps, fever, bloody diarrhea, kidney failure, blindness, paralysis and death.
The strain involved in this case, E. coli O157:H7, is best known for its role in large outbreaks traced to ground beef or produce.
However person-to-person transmission can be a problem in day-care settings or nursing homes without sufficiently thorough hand washing after toilet use or diaper changing. In some cases, especially in young children, infection can lead to life-threatening complications.
Health investigators have tested the 22 children, as well as four adults, Melnick said. Six people were found to be carrying the E. coli strain, but weren't showing symptoms.
Symptoms can take as long as 10 days to appear after exposure so the health department is checking in with staff and the children's families daily.
Melnick said the day care will remain closed until affected staff show no presence of the bacteria on two consecutive tests. Children who tested positive will have to meet the same criteria before being allowed to attend any day care or school, he said.
