VANCOUVER, Wash. -- A Clark County day care was closed after an outbreak of E. coli infections that led to the death of one child and hospitalized three others.
Clark County health officer Dr. Alan Melnick said the first child got sick on March 19 and three other cases followed. The Fletch day care center was closed pending the follow up testing of all 22 attendees and four staff members.
The child who died was not identified by health officials. Melnick said the source was thought to be a person-to-person transmission.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of this child,” Melnick said. “Our hearts go out to the child’s family during this very difficult time.”
More: Statement from Fletch Family Daycare
The outbreak began in mid March, when several children at the day care began reporting gastrointestinal symptoms.
The strain was identified as E. coli O157:H7. Transmission can happen if infected people do not wash their hands after using the toilet or diapering children.
Elizabeth Winter with the Washington state Department of Early Learning said Larry and Dianne Fletch have been operating this child care center out of their home since 1990 and have had no valid complaints against their license.
"We had decided to close even before they told us we had to. It was so hard. We care so much and work so hard," co owner Larry Fletch told KGW by phone. "It really is so horrible. We knew the child since before he was born. We’ve been trying to help the family. It’s just so horrible. We were close to the child. We’re close to all of our children."
The children who were possibly exposed were also not being allowed to attend any other day care centers, Melnick said.
Those being supervised by health officials were being declared free of infection after two separate negative tests in 24 hours. Exposure to the bacteria can show symptoms between one and 10 days.
Symptoms of E. coli include diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, cramping, and sometimes vomiting and fever. The very young and the elderly are more likely to develop serious complications.
Safety tips from Clark County Health officials:
Do not eat undercooked hamburger or other ground beef products. Cook ground beef to 160 degrees F. Venison should be cooked to 165 degrees F.
Make sure cooked ground beef is brown throughout (not pink) and the juices run clear.
Drink only pasteurized milk, milk products and fruit juices.
Wash all produce, kitchen utensils and countertops.
Wash hands carefully with hot, soapy water, rubbing hands together for 20 seconds after using the toilet, changing a child’s diaper, or touching farm animals to reduce the risk of spreading disease.
Anyone with diarrhea or children in diapers should not swim in pools or lakes.
