Confirmed Case of E. Coli.
The General Manager of Lake Shore Athletic Club voluntarily shut down the supervised play area on Thursday, August 5, for a thorough top to bottom cleaning after becoming aware that a child with a confirmed case of E. coli had visited the play area. As a public service, we are forwarding the following information from Lake Shoe Athletic Club and Clark County Health officials:
“Child with E.coli prompts push to protect others. Health officials, Lake Shore Athletic Club urge check for symptoms.
Vancouver, WA – A child who recently tested positive for E. coli O157:H7 attended a supervised play area at Lake Shore Athletic Club near Vancouver while possibly contagious. Clark County Public Health and Lake Shore managers are asking parents to watch for symptoms among children who visited the play area between July 10 and August 4.
Public Health is currently working with Lake Shore management to contain the situation and eliminate any risk of additional exposures. The club voluntarily closed the play area August 5. It will be disinfected and remain closed until Public Health and Lake Shore management determine there is no risk of exposure. At this time, health officials do not consider other areas of the athletic club to pose a risk to staff or visitors.
E. coli 0157:H7 is a bacterial infection that can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea that may be bloody. Children with those symptoms should see a health care provider immediately. In addition, their parents should contact Public Health at (360) 397-8022. Infections can range from mild to very severe. They are sometimes fatal. Fever is usually very mild or nonexistent.
The child’s positive test for E. coli was reported to Public Health by a clinical laboratory. The original source of the infection is not known. In a continuing investigation, Public Health is contacting people who may have been exposed at the athletic club or at other locations visited by the infected child or others who have reported symptoms possibly related to the incident.
E.coli O157:H7 is most commonly found in cattle feces and in food, water or other material contaminated with cattle feces. People can catch it from eating undercooked hamburgers or contaminated raw food such as lettuce, spinach or sprouts. In addition, once infected, people can transmit the infection to others through their hands after visiting the bathroom or diapering, if their hands are not cleaned thoroughly. Some ways to prevent E.coli infection include:
• Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with warm, soapy water, rubbing hands together for at least 20 seconds.
• Wash hands after using the toilet or changing a child’s diaper.
• Wash hands immediately after petting an animal at a petting zoo.
• Thoroughly cook ground meat.
• Avoid contaminating raw foods through contact with raw meat; for example, do not store lettuce underneath dripping meat and use separate cutting boards for meat and produce.
• Avoid drinking unpasteurized products such as milk or juice.
• Carefully wash all produce, kitchen utensils and countertops before and after cooking.
• Keep children not toilet trained and anyone with diarrhea out of swimming areas.
• Keep children who have diarrhea at home.
• Children diagnosed with E. coli must not return to a child care facility until they have two negative stool tests in a 48-hour period.”
This post: “Was Your Child at Lake Shore Athletic Club”
was originally featured at Hazel Dell Live!
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