Tips for protecting yourself against E. coli
Anyone can become infected with E. coli O157 by having contact with fecal material from infected people or animals (especially cattle) or eating contaminated food or water.
The Green County Health Department recommends the following:
- Keep children child home from school/daycare if they are ill.
- Teach and supervise child for good handwashing. Make sure they are using soap and warm water when washing their hands. Children and adults should always wash their hands before they eat and after using the bathroom.
- Watch children for gastrointestinal symptoms over the next few weeks. If a child or someone else develops diarrhea that contains blood or mucous, or is watery or less formed with greater occurrence than usual, contact a health care provider. Explain to the health care provider that there has been cases of E. coli O157 identified at Abe Lincoln School and in Green County and that the child may have been exposed.
- Clean and sanitize the home to prevent the spread of disease.
More information on cleaning and sanitizing and on food safety, visit www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/FoodSafety/index
MONROE - Two new cases of E. coli O157 in Green County were confirmed earlier this week.
The Green County Health Department, Monroe School District and the Wisconsin Division of Public Health announced Wednesday they are investigating two new confirmed cases of E. coli O157 found in children who attend Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy in Monroe.
A confirmed case means a health provider has tested a person and found the presence of the bacterium.
The cases were reported individually on Monday and Tuesday to the Green County Health Department, according to RoAnn Warden, Green County Health Officer.
It's not yet known whether these two cases are related to a previous cluster of nine E. coli cases that occurred in August and early September and left one child dead.
The health department and state Division of Public Health released information about those cases of E coli O1577:H7 on Sept. 15. Of the nine confirmed cases, two people were hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication that causes kidney disease. One of them, a 20-month-old child died; the other recovered. A third person was hospitalized for dehydration, according to Warden.
Most of the cases were found among children under 7 years old, and half of the cases were deemed to have occurred through household transmissions.
The last case was confirmed on Sept. 7. Those cases are still under investigation for a common source.
The Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene is performing testing to determine the genetic strain of the most recent cases.
"Hopefully, we will know by Friday sometime if these cases carry the same genetic fingerprint," Warden said.
Warden said she will not know whether the county will have more information in the pending investigation or another investigation to pursue until the state lab tests are finished.
"Of course, the more information we have, the better," she added.
So far, the only common factor in the two new cases is the elementary school.
School district response
In response to the recently confirmed cases at Abe Lincoln, the school district has informed students and parents in the district about the recent cases, and is taking increased precautionary measures for cleaning toys and classrooms. Staff and 4K providers in the district have also been notified.
As a safety measure, letters notifying parents were distributed Wednesday, according to Larry Brown, district administrator. The letters provide information about signs and symptoms of E. coli O157 infection and strategies to reduce the spread of E. coli O157.
"We are telling them the symptoms to look for, and if a child is showing symptoms, they should be kept home. If the symptoms persist, they should take them to a doctor for early detection," he said.
Brown said the school's website also will have resources for parents.
"We are working hard to make sure parents are informed," he said.
The school has instituted additional daily cleaning/procedures in order to help prevent the spread of viruses or bacteria. Students and staff have been taught good handwashing techniques, and educational posters have been placed in the classrooms and bathrooms as reminders.
Small children at the school are escorted or chaperoned to restrooms, so proper washing can be monitored, he added.
County, state health depts. respond
The Green County Health Department and Wisconsin Division of Public Health are interviewing parents and guardians in order to identify possible sources of the E. coli O157 infections. Area health care providers have been alerted to the new cases of E. coli O157 in Green County.
Members of the public are also being asked to increase their attention to cleanliness.
"We know bacteria and viruses can live on surfaces," Warden said, "which is why good hand washing and thorough sanitizing of homes, schools and businesses are needed to prevent the spread of this disease."
E. coli O157 is a bacterium that infects the intestinal tract and may produce a toxin that affects other parts of the body. Symptoms include diarrhea, which often is bloody, and severe abdominal cramps and will typically appear three to four days following exposure to the bacteria. Some people may become infected but do not have symptoms. In children infected with E. coli O157, about one-third will carry and shed the bacteria in their bowel movements for up to several weeks after symptoms resolve.
Daycare provider, school and health care providers were also contacted in early September with education in controlling the risks of infection.
The Green County Health Department, Monroe School District and the Wisconsin Division of Public Health announced Wednesday they are investigating two new confirmed cases of E. coli O157 found in children who attend Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy in Monroe.
A confirmed case means a health provider has tested a person and found the presence of the bacterium.
The cases were reported individually on Monday and Tuesday to the Green County Health Department, according to RoAnn Warden, Green County Health Officer.
It's not yet known whether these two cases are related to a previous cluster of nine E. coli cases that occurred in August and early September and left one child dead.
The health department and state Division of Public Health released information about those cases of E coli O1577:H7 on Sept. 15. Of the nine confirmed cases, two people were hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication that causes kidney disease. One of them, a 20-month-old child died; the other recovered. A third person was hospitalized for dehydration, according to Warden.
Most of the cases were found among children under 7 years old, and half of the cases were deemed to have occurred through household transmissions.
The last case was confirmed on Sept. 7. Those cases are still under investigation for a common source.
The Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene is performing testing to determine the genetic strain of the most recent cases.
"Hopefully, we will know by Friday sometime if these cases carry the same genetic fingerprint," Warden said.
Warden said she will not know whether the county will have more information in the pending investigation or another investigation to pursue until the state lab tests are finished.
"Of course, the more information we have, the better," she added.
So far, the only common factor in the two new cases is the elementary school.
School district response
In response to the recently confirmed cases at Abe Lincoln, the school district has informed students and parents in the district about the recent cases, and is taking increased precautionary measures for cleaning toys and classrooms. Staff and 4K providers in the district have also been notified.
As a safety measure, letters notifying parents were distributed Wednesday, according to Larry Brown, district administrator. The letters provide information about signs and symptoms of E. coli O157 infection and strategies to reduce the spread of E. coli O157.
"We are telling them the symptoms to look for, and if a child is showing symptoms, they should be kept home. If the symptoms persist, they should take them to a doctor for early detection," he said.
Brown said the school's website also will have resources for parents.
"We are working hard to make sure parents are informed," he said.
The school has instituted additional daily cleaning/procedures in order to help prevent the spread of viruses or bacteria. Students and staff have been taught good handwashing techniques, and educational posters have been placed in the classrooms and bathrooms as reminders.
Small children at the school are escorted or chaperoned to restrooms, so proper washing can be monitored, he added.
County, state health depts. respond
The Green County Health Department and Wisconsin Division of Public Health are interviewing parents and guardians in order to identify possible sources of the E. coli O157 infections. Area health care providers have been alerted to the new cases of E. coli O157 in Green County.
Members of the public are also being asked to increase their attention to cleanliness.
"We know bacteria and viruses can live on surfaces," Warden said, "which is why good hand washing and thorough sanitizing of homes, schools and businesses are needed to prevent the spread of this disease."
E. coli O157 is a bacterium that infects the intestinal tract and may produce a toxin that affects other parts of the body. Symptoms include diarrhea, which often is bloody, and severe abdominal cramps and will typically appear three to four days following exposure to the bacteria. Some people may become infected but do not have symptoms. In children infected with E. coli O157, about one-third will carry and shed the bacteria in their bowel movements for up to several weeks after symptoms resolve.
Daycare provider, school and health care providers were also contacted in early September with education in controlling the risks of infection.