By Times staff
MONROE - Parents of young children attending Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy in Monroe are being urged to collect stool samples of their children for testing, in the wake of a suspected third case of E. coli infection in a student this week.
One of two cases of E. coli confirmed in schoolchildren in Monroe earlier this week genetically matches a cluster of nine E. coli 0157 cases that occurred in Green County during August and early September. At that time, E. coli sickened eight people and left one 20-month-old child dead.
The two most recent cases were confirmed as E. coli Monday and Tuesday. Both cases are children who attend Abe Lincoln.
The Green County Health Department was notified Friday of the genetic match of one of those cases. The Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene is still determining the genetic strain of the second case.
The exact cause of the third possible case is still unknown, but officials suspect it is also E. coli 0157, Green County Health Officer RoAnn Warden said in a statement late Friday afternoon.
The health department and the Wisconsin Division of Public Health are recommending all pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students at Abe Lincoln have their stools tested to see if they are infected with the bacterium.
Free stool specimen kits can be picked up from the nurse's office at Abe Lincoln Elementary School during school hours, or from the Green County Health Department, N3150 Wisconsin 81, in the Pleasant View Complex, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Kits must be delivered to the Green County Health Department by 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17 so they can be forwarded to the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene for testing. Specimens received later will be shipped overnight. Parents will be notified of lab results as soon as they are available, Warden said.
The Monroe school district informed parents Wednesday of the two confirmed E. coli cases. The school implemented additional daily cleaning to help prevent the spread of the E. coli bacterium. Students and staff have also been taught proper handwashing techniques and younger children are being supervised to ensure they are washing hands properly.
Warden said the health department and state Division of Public Health continue to interview parents and guardians to identify possible sources of the E. coli O157 infections.
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, often 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. About one-third of children infected with E.coli O157 will carry and shed the bacteria in their bowel movements for up to several weeks after symptoms resolve.
The Green County Health Department recommends:
• Keep children home from school/daycare if they are ill.
• Teach and supervise children for good hand washing. 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 someone in the household develops diarrhea that contains blood or mucous, or is watery or less formed with greater occurrence than usual, contact a health care provider. Tell the health care provider that there have been cases of E. coli O157 identified at Abe Lincoln Elementary School and in Green County and that the child may have been exposed.
• Clean and sanitize the home to prevent the spread of disease.
MONROE - Parents of young children attending Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy in Monroe are being urged to collect stool samples of their children for testing, in the wake of a suspected third case of E. coli infection in a student this week.
One of two cases of E. coli confirmed in schoolchildren in Monroe earlier this week genetically matches a cluster of nine E. coli 0157 cases that occurred in Green County during August and early September. At that time, E. coli sickened eight people and left one 20-month-old child dead.
The two most recent cases were confirmed as E. coli Monday and Tuesday. Both cases are children who attend Abe Lincoln.
The Green County Health Department was notified Friday of the genetic match of one of those cases. The Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene is still determining the genetic strain of the second case.
The exact cause of the third possible case is still unknown, but officials suspect it is also E. coli 0157, Green County Health Officer RoAnn Warden said in a statement late Friday afternoon.
The health department and the Wisconsin Division of Public Health are recommending all pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students at Abe Lincoln have their stools tested to see if they are infected with the bacterium.
Free stool specimen kits can be picked up from the nurse's office at Abe Lincoln Elementary School during school hours, or from the Green County Health Department, N3150 Wisconsin 81, in the Pleasant View Complex, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Kits must be delivered to the Green County Health Department by 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17 so they can be forwarded to the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene for testing. Specimens received later will be shipped overnight. Parents will be notified of lab results as soon as they are available, Warden said.
The Monroe school district informed parents Wednesday of the two confirmed E. coli cases. The school implemented additional daily cleaning to help prevent the spread of the E. coli bacterium. Students and staff have also been taught proper handwashing techniques and younger children are being supervised to ensure they are washing hands properly.
Warden said the health department and state Division of Public Health continue to interview parents and guardians to identify possible sources of the E. coli O157 infections.
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, often 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. About one-third of children infected with E.coli O157 will carry and shed the bacteria in their bowel movements for up to several weeks after symptoms resolve.
The Green County Health Department recommends:
• Keep children home from school/daycare if they are ill.
• Teach and supervise children for good hand washing. 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 someone in the household develops diarrhea that contains blood or mucous, or is watery or less formed with greater occurrence than usual, contact a health care provider. Tell the health care provider that there have been cases of E. coli O157 identified at Abe Lincoln Elementary School and in Green County and that the child may have been exposed.
• Clean and sanitize the home to prevent the spread of disease.