The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has updated their investigation into the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) outbreak at The Learning Vine daycare in Greenwood county. Now 11 cases have been confirmed. The cases are of people who went to the daycare and their family members. As of today, June 13, 2014, 194 test results are negative for STEC. The three new lab-confirmed cases are people who had diarrhea, or were asymptomatic, but are now symptom-free. There is "no evidence of ongoing transmission related to this investigation, and there has been no new onset of illness in students or staff of the daycare since June 1, 2015," according to the report. The childcare center has been cleared to re-open. The Learning Vine has met conditions of the public … [Read more...]
Health and Safety Violations at The Learning Vine Daycare Center
Health and safety violations have been reported at The Learning Vine daycare center in Greenwood, South Carolina, which is at the center of an E. coli outbreak. The report, issued by the South Carolina Child Care Early Care and Education department, lists 12 violations ranging from cross-contamination at diaper changing stations to open trash cans and a dirty fridge. E. coli infections are spread by contact with infected human waste and animal waste. In this outbreak, at least eight people are sick with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria; some have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and one 2-year-old boy has died. The daycare has received a "C" grade, which means the facility meets requirements, but that is the lowest grade on the scale. The violations that may be … [Read more...]
The Learning Vine Daycare SC E. coli Outbreak Investigation Updated
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has updated their investigation into the E. coli outbreak at The Learning Vine daycare center in Greenwood County. At this time, there are eight cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). DHEC is working with the CDC, FDA, and the childcare facility to investigate the mode of transmission. The facility has voluntarily closed. Here is the timeline: On May 18, the government was notified of a confirmed case of E. coli illness in a person associated with The Learning Vine. The person was interviewed, and was symptom-free since May 11. On May 29, DHEC was notified of a case of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in Greenwood County; this is a complication of an E. coli infection. Interviews of close contacts of … [Read more...]
E. coli Outbreak at The Learning Vine Daycare in South Carolina
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control confirmed seven cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli associated with The Learning Vine daycare facility in Greenwood, South Carolina. That facility is located at 101 Overland Drive in Greenwood. The facility has closed voluntarily and staff has been cooperating with public health officials. A 2-year-old boy, Myles Mayfield, died May 31, 2015 from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a complication of an E. coli infection. The statement from DHEC does not mention Myles, but lab cultures have confirmed that four of the E. coli cases associated with that facility are from the same strain of bacteria. Two people are currently hospitalized. State Epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell said in a statement, "our primary concern … [Read more...]
Whatcom County E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Final Summary
The Whatcom County Health Department in Bellingham, Washington has issued their final report into the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that sickened at least 25 children. The outbreak appears to be over. All of the ill people either attended the Milk Makers Fest between April 21 and 23, 2015 at the Northwest Fairgrounds in Lynden, Washington; helped with the event between April 20 and April 24, or were in close contact with people associated with the event. Environmental contamination with E. coli O157:H7 at the Dairy Barn at the fairgrounds was the likely source of this outbreak. Case counts were calculated based only on lab-confirmed infections with E. coli O157:H7 or physician-diagnosed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a complication of an E. coli infection. Twenty-five peoeple … [Read more...]
Update on Whatcom County, WA Milk Makers Fest E. coli Outbreak
The Whatcom County Health Department updated their investigation into the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with the Milk Makers Fest at the fairgrounds in Lynden, Washington. Investigators are calculating case counts "based on lab-confirmed infection with E. coli O157:H7 and physician-diagnosed cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)." The latest update, posted May 18, 2015, states that there are 22 confirmed cases. Ten people have been hospitalized. No one has died. Four people have developed HUS. Tests from other sick people are being investigated. The investigation now includes environmental samples taken from the Northwest Fairgrounds, since all of the ill people attended the Milk Makers Fest between April 21 and 23, 2015; helped with the event between … [Read more...]
E. coli HUS Strikes Three Children in Whatcom County, WA
HUS E. coli has infected three children in the Whatcom County, Washington, outbreak linked to a school-sponsored outing to the Milk Makers Festival in Lynden. A new report from the Washington State Department of Health said 15 E. coli cases have been confirmed, more than half of those patients were hospitalized and three have suffered the worst complication possible: HUS kidney failure, also known as hemolytic uremic syndrome. The disease can be fatal in a significant percentage of child cases, but no deaths have been reported in the Milk Makers outbreak. This week's Whatcom County E. coli update is the best accounting yet of how serious the outbreak became after the first school children began to fall ill in late April. More than 1,000 first graders from Bellingham and surrounding area … [Read more...]
Milk Makers Fest Mixed E. Coli and School Children at Fairgrounds
It was the 22nd annual Milk Makers Festival in Whatcom County, Washington, and 25 Lynden High School students helped set up a hay maze to go with a petting zoo, scavenger hunt and activities for younger kids to learn about raising calves and milking cows. When more than 1,300 first graders and their chaperones arrived for the three-day fest at Northwest Fairgrounds late last month, they also were joined by invisible pathogens from animal feces that caused an outbreak of potentially fatal E. coli infections, including a dreaded complication known as HUS E. coli. Lawyers for the childrens' families, scientists from the Whatcom County Health Department, state epidemiologists -- even experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- are now trying to determine what went wrong. … [Read more...]
E. coli HUS Outbreak at Whatcom County, WA Updated
The E. coli O157 outbreak associated with the Milk Makers Fest at the Northwest Fairgrounds in Lynden, Whatcom County, Washington has now sickened 36 people, according to the Health Department. The latest update is 18 positive cases, and 18 probable cases. Five people have been hospitalized; at least some of those have hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious complication of an E. coli infection. That is a change of one more new confirmed case, three new probable cases, and one new hospitalization. The positive cases have either those with positive lab tests, or close contact with a positive or presumptive positive case. The probable cases are people with clinical symptoms who were associated with the event, but lab results were either not available or not conducted. The Health … [Read more...]
E. coli Outbreak in Canada: Leafy Greens a Possibility
An E. coli outbreak in Canada has sickened at least 12 people. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, a specific product hasn't been identified as the case of the illnesses, but leafy greens are considered a strong possibility. Those sickened live in: Alberta (9), Saskatchewan (1), Ontario (1), and Newfoundland and Labrador (1). The illness onset dates range from March 13 to March 31, 2015. All of those people are sick with E. coli that have a matching genetic fingerprint. Leafy greens are a possibility and may include kale, spinach, arugula, or chard. Public health officials in Canada are investigating this outbreak and will announce a source when it has been identified. Whenever there is an outbreak in Canada or the United States, there are sometimes cases in the other … [Read more...]
