An E. Coli contamination was reportedly the cause for two preschoolers to be hospitalized leading to a temporary closure of a Montessori school in Oregon.
About three students at Heart Centered Montessori of West Linn were said to have contracted E. Coli during fall, while the two was hospitalized the other one had fully recovered. The incident happened in September and October.
Prior to the closure, the Public Health Division of Clackamas County advised institutions such as daycares, stay home from schools, and Heart Centered Montessori of West Linn to temporarily restrain their students to share foods due to E. Coli contamination.
Investigations done by the health officials in the Montessori school was not yet 100 percent done as the initial environmental tests showed no exact details where the E. Coli contamination originated.
Health authorities are focusing on their examination for E. coli O157:H7, a type of deadly bacterium Escherichia coli that can attack a person's intestinal guts with a powerful toxin leaving the patient experience recurrent watery bowel elimination.
In September, a 4-year-old girl named Serena Profitt died due E. Coli contamination of the strain E. coli O157:H7 .
The Clackamas County authorities also suggested that all students and faculty of the Montessori be examined for possible E. Coli contamination. Samples will be collected Monday or Tuesday to provide results the same week.
With increasing E. Coli contamination incidence in Oregon, the owner of Heart Centered Montessori of West Linn, Meg O'Keeffe voluntarily submitted her school for closure. She says "This is serious stuff." She also claims it's for safety precaution.
According to Healthline, E. Coli's symptoms range from abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fever. More stern cases often leads to dehydration, bloody diarrhea, kidney failure and even death.
E. Coli contamination can be obtained from infected foods and drinks. Improper food handling and poor hygiene also contributes to increasing a person's susceptibility to the infection.
