Daycare in central Alberta closed due to E. coli outbreak

By: The Canadian Press Posted:

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BLACKFALDS, Alta. - A daycare in central Alberta has been temporarily shut due to an E. coli outbreak.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/08/2024 (752 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BLACKFALDS, Alta. – A daycare in central Alberta has been temporarily shut due to an E. coli outbreak.

Alberta Health says a child who attended the Aspen Lakes Discovery Centre in Blackfalds tested positive on Friday.

Later that day, the province declared an outbreak of Shiga-toxin producing E. coli, which can cause serious complications in some people.

A daycare in central Alberta has been temporarily shut down due to an E. coli outbreak. A microbiologist points out an isolated E. coli growth on an agar plate from a patient specimen at the Washington State Dept. of Health, in Shoreline, Wash., Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Elaine Thompson
A daycare in central Alberta has been temporarily shut down due to an E. coli outbreak. A microbiologist points out an isolated E. coli growth on an agar plate from a patient specimen at the Washington State Dept. of Health, in Shoreline, Wash., Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Elaine Thompson

Alberta Health Services is investigating the outbreak and working with the daycare to reduce the chance of further transmission.

The agency doesn’t yet know the root cause of the infection and is following up with 136 children and 25 staff considered to have been exposed.

Almost a year ago, an E. coli outbreak hit several Calgary daycares that were served meat loaf out of a central kitchen operated by Fueling Minds, leading to hundreds of infections.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 28, 2024.

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