1 child dead, 3 sickened by E. coli in Clark County

VANCOUVER, Wash. — The Clark County, Wash., health officer says one child has died and three others fell ill after a recent outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 at a Vancouver-area day care center. Dr. Alan Melnick did not immediately identify or provide any details Friday on the child who died. Four children were hospitalized; Melnick says the other three have been released. Melnick says the first child was hospitalized on March 19 and three others soon after. The licensed day care center has been closed temporarily. The Columbian says the day care center is located in a private home in suburban Hazel Del. Health officials say they don’t know the precise source of the outbreak but said it did not appear related to food, water or another single source. Investigators tested 22 children and four adults. They say they found six people carrying the E. coli bacteria in their blood but not showing symptoms.