ARAPAHOE COUNTY
– The Tri-County Health Department reported four more cases of E.coli at an unlicensed in-home day care facility in Aurora.
A 3-year-old boy died on Sept.19. There are now a total of six cases
in children.
All of the other children are reported to be doing well and none have been
hospitalized.
The Colorado Department of Human Services issued an order for the day care to
close because state law requires a license for childcare facilities that care
for two or more unrelated children.
“These recent cases confirm that in all likelihood, the illness was transmitted
within this day care setting,” stated Richard L. Vogt, MD, Executive Director
of Tri-County Health Department. “The person who was running the in-home day
care is working closely with us, and we have been in contact with all of the
parents of the children who attended this daycare in the past six weeks.”
“We have three specific public health goals,” added Vogt. “To test each child
so that they can receive medical attention if necessary; to halt any further
spread of this illness among family members; and to prevent any child from
entering another child care until they test negative. That way, the illness
does not spread beyond this isolated situation.”
Symptoms usually begin two to 10 days after ingesting the bacteria. Symptoms
include a sudden onset of diarrhea, which often becomes bloody as the illness
progresses; severe stomach pains; and in some instances, fever and vomiting.
Some infected people may not have any symptoms, but will still be able to
spread the bacteria.
For more information about E. coli, visit the Tri-County Web site at
www.tchd.org
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