Sick from E. coli?
Call (612) 337-6126
Elliot Olsen has represented people sickened by E. coli for decades, and he has regained millions of dollars for them. If your child is enrolled at Kids Place and got sick from E. coli, you should call Elliot at (612) 337-6126 for a free consultation, or complete the following:
Numerous children at the Kids Place child-care center in Mascot are suffering from serious cases of E. coli infection, the Tennessee Department of Human Services said. Mascot is about 15 miles northeast of Knoxville.
The Kids Place child-care center closed the unit where the children are enrolled after the Knox County Health Department (KCHD) began investigating the outbreak. Dr. Martha Buchanan, director of the health department, said children in the unit – called the “Baby House” – might have come in contact with farm animals carrying E. coli bacteria in their intestines. The other possibility is contaminated raw milk.
“The safety of all children is the top priority at Kids Place,” the child-care center said in a statement. “When we learned that a child was diagnosed with E. coli infection, we took several immediate proactive steps. Kids Place quickly notified all parents; contacted the Knox County Health Department; disinfected classrooms and common areas; installed a new outdoor surface; and closed the Baby House for toddlers.”
The KCHD has issued an E. coli alert as it investigates the outbreak.
Kids Place: Raw milk,
animals being tested
The health department began investigating “several” cases of E. coli, all in children, and had determined that “most” of those sickened had consumed raw milk from French Broad Farm, which operates a cow-share program in Knoxville.
Buchanan said that although all the children had the same strain of E. coli, not every child consumed raw milk. She went on to say that it is possible that the children became ill from animals or from another child. She said samples from animals and milk are being tested for E. coli.
Numerous children at the Kids Place child-care center in Mascot, Tennessee, are suffering from serious cases of E. coli infection, the state’s Department of Human Services said. Mascot is about 15 miles northeast of Knoxville. (Pictured: E. coli bacteria.)
Kids Place: Four
have developed HUS
Four victims, who are all 4 years old or younger, have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a deadly form of kidney disease.
A spokesperson for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital said its doctors have treated nearly 10 children under the age of four, all of whom tested positive for E. coli in the past two weeks.
Due to the potential for E. coli contamination and out of an abundance of caution, the KCHD advises the public not to consume raw milk – or any other unpasteurized products – from French Broad Farm.
“Bacteria like E. coli cannot be seen with the naked eye,” Buchanan said. “For some perspective, roughly 1,800 can fit on the head of a pin, and it only takes about 10 to make you sick.”
Dr. Joe Childs, the chief medical officer of East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, said the four children who have developed HUS are on dialysis in intensive care. Childs also said this E. coli outbreak is the largest he has experienced.
“We’ll see sporadic cases – maybe two, three at a time – but this is way more than I’ve ever experienced before here,” he said.
Kids Place: Info
about HUS
HUS is a severe complication associated with E. coli infection. The disease produces toxic substances that destroy red blood cells, causing severe kidney injury. A HUS infection often results in the need for dialysis and blood transfusions.
HUS is the leading cause of acute kidney failure in infants and young children. Adolescents and adults are also susceptible, as are the elderly, who often die from the disease.
Kids Place: Info
about E. coli
E. coli (Escherichia coli) are bacteria that live in the intestines of humans and some mammals. Most strains are harmless; they help keep your digestive tract healthy. Some strains, however, can cause serious illness.
Some E. coli strains make you sick by producing “Shiga” toxin, which damages the intestinal lining. The strains of E. coli that cause Shiga toxin are called STEC, which is short for “Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.”
The most dangerous strain of STEC E. coli is E. coli O157, the strain responsible for this outbreak in Tennessee. It can cause prolonged diarrhea that can eventually develop into kidney failure, and even result in death.
Other symptoms of STEC E. coli include:
- abdominal cramps
- nausea
- constant fatigue
- fever
- confusion
- seizures.
Kids Place: Info
about raw milk
Drinking raw milk for its “health benefits” has become popular in the 21st century. Drinking raw milk, however, greatly increases the risk of contracting a potentially serious foodborne illness – especially for young children.
Raw milk is any milk that has not been pasteurized, a process in which the milk is heated to destroy dangerous microorganisms. (In the U.S., raw milk is primarily produced by dairy cows. It also can be produced by goats and sheep.)
Raw milk proponents argue that consuming it prevents lactose intolerance, can aid in the prevention of allergies, and boosts the immune system. Those proponents say that pasteurizing the milk can damage or destroy its nutrients and “good” bacteria.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – among other organizations – say there is no evidence to support those claims. In fact, the CDC reported that between 1998 and 2011, about 2,400 Americans were sickened in 148 outbreaks of food poisoning caused by the consumption of raw milk or cheese made with raw milk.
Of the people sickened during that period, 284 were hospitalized, and two died. In addition, of the 104 outbreaks in which the ages of patients were included, more than 80 percent involved at least one person younger than 20.
