More than 100 individuals have been connected to the recent E. coli outbreak that resulted in the closure of 11 daycares in Calgary and the surrounding area. Alberta Health Services (AHS) announced on Thursday that there are now 128 confirmed cases of the outbreak, up from 96 the previous day.
Hospitals are seeing an increase in the number of children being admitted. As of Thursday, there were 25 kids in the hospital, with 20 at Alberta Children’s Hospital, five in the pediatric unit of the Peter Lougheed Centre, and three children have already been discharged.
A total of nine patients have been diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a kidney condition caused by the blockage of the filtering properties of the organs due to destroyed red blood cells. These patients are currently in a stable condition and are receiving the appropriate care in the hospital. HUS can result in acute kidney injury and may require dialysis.
According to Dr. Julian Midgley, a pediatric nephrologist, the majority of children affected by HUS will eventually recover from the condition. However, it can be a terrifying experience for the families. “Children can go from being well to significantly ill with decreased kidney function in just three to five days, or even a week later,” Midgley explained. “Some children may become very unwell and require intensive care treatment.”
Teagan Roberts, whose son Rhett was hospitalized during a previous E. coli outbreak in October 2022, shared her experience. Rhett suffered from renal failure and seizures at just one year old, resulting in chronic kidney disease and brain damage. Roberts said, “We have continuous follow-ups with the nephrology clinic at Alberta Health Services, and Rhett also receives speech therapy and physiotherapy. So he has many ongoing medical appointments.”
To address the current outbreak, Alberta Children’s Hospital has established a dedicated clinic to monitor patients after their initial visit to the emergency department. This clinic will also cater to discharged patients. Children affected by the outbreak need to undergo daily bloodwork to monitor any signs of HUS or other complications.
Sarah MacDonald’s son Lachlan is one of the many children who are closely monitored due to the outbreak. MacDonald expressed her concern over the long waiting times in the emergency room for blood tests. “These are kids under five. They are supposed to go to bed at 7 p.m., and for some of them, their time to go in for tests is at 7:30 p.m.”
MacDonald shared that her son experienced intense diarrhea for over 48 hours soon after returning from daycare. “Lachlan spent nights on the toilet. He couldn’t even sleep in his bed. He was passing not just blood but flesh in his stool.” As a result, Lachlan now suffers from a bowel prolapse, and his recovery will not be quick.
Although Fueling Brains Academy and AHS have been communicating regularly since the outbreak was declared, MacDonald expressed disappointment in not being notified earlier about suspected E. coli infections in an earlier communication. She believes that the children were not adequately protected in that regard.
AHS has created a webpage for the public to provide updates and information about the outbreak. They have also acknowledged that three patients linked to the daycares are receiving care outside the province.
In conclusion, the recent E. coli outbreak in Calgary and the surrounding area has affected over 100 people and hospitalized several children. The provincial health authority is closely monitoring the situation and ensuring that appropriate care is provided to those affected. The families of the affected children have expressed concerns about the severity of the illness and the long-term impact on their children’s health. AHS has set up a webpage to keep the public informed about the outbreak.
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