Health officials in Kentucky are investigating an E.coli outbreak that has sickened three Kindergarteners, two of whom are hospitalized, Beth Fisher, a spokeswoman for the Kentucky Center For Health and Family Services (KCHFS) told Food Poisoning Bulletin this morning.
The children attend school at Stanford Elementary school in Lincoln County, about 45 miles south of Lexington. KCHFS is working with officials from the Lincoln County Department fo Health to determine the scope and cause of the outbreak, but a source has not yet been identified, Fisher said.
Health and school officials are informing parents to watch their children for symptoms of an E.coli infection, which include nausea, vomiting and bloody diarrhea and to seek immediate medical attention if such symptoms develop.
Each year, more than a quarter million Americans develop E.coli infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These infection can range form mild to severe. In some cases, children can develop a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause kidney failure, stroke or coma.
To prevent the spread of E.coli infections, the CDC recommends thorough handwashing after using the bathroom or changing a diaper, cooking meats to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, avoiding the consumption of raw milk and other unpasteurized beverages, and preventing cross-contamination by thoroughly washing cutting boards, utensil and all food preparation areas.
