An outbreak of E. coli infections has affected over 200 individuals, mostly children, at various day centers in Calgary. This is not the first major outbreak of this foodborne illness, which is caused by bacteria found in animal feces and can be transmitted to humans through undercooked meat, unpasteurized food, or contaminated water.
An Outbreak of E. Coli Infections at Calgary Day Centers
The E. coli variant known as 0157 is particularly virulent and can lead to a condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome, which affects the kidneys and blood clotting. Below are some notable E. coli 0157 outbreaks in Canada:
– 1980: In Toronto, 14 children fell ill with hemolytic uremic syndrome, and one of them tragically passed away. Unpasteurized apple juice was identified as the source of the outbreak.
– 1982: An outbreak in an Ottawa nursing home affected 31 residents, resulting in one fatality. The main culprit was suspected to be undercooked hamburger.
– 1985: A total of 73 residents and staff at a nursing home in London, Ontario fell ill after consuming uncooked meat in sandwiches. This outbreak claimed the lives of nineteen residents.
– 1991: In the Northwest Territories, 521 Inuit individuals across six communities fell sick over several months. Contaminated beef and caribou were believed to be the sources of the outbreaks, which resulted in 22 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome and two fatalities.
– 1999: An outbreak in British Columbia infected 143 people, and dry salami was identified as the culprit.
– 2000: The largest E. coli outbreak in Canada occurred in Walkerton, Ontario, affecting over 2,300 individuals due to contaminated drinking water. Seven deaths were reported as a result.
– 2012: XL Foods, a processing plant in Brooks, Alberta, recalled more than 1.8 million kilograms of beef in Canada and the United States due to confirmed E. coli contamination. This incident led to the largest meat recall in Canadian history and a $4-million settlement in a class-action lawsuit in 2016.
– 2014: Contaminated pork sickened 119 individuals in Alberta.
– 2018: A total of 18 people in Quebec and Ontario were infected and six required hospitalization after consuming contaminated lettuce.
– 2019: Packaged salad kits were identified as the likely source of contamination that affected 28 people across seven provinces. Eight individuals were hospitalized.
– 2022: Fourteen individuals in Alberta and Saskatchewan fell ill after consuming contaminated kimchi, but fortunately, no hospitalizations were reported.
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