Officials Seek Source In E. Coli Sickness

Wed., Aug. 12, 1998

From Staff

Health officials were trying to determine the source of E. coli bacteria that has sickened two Richland youngsters.

A 2-1/2-year-old girl was being treated Monday at Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle. Doctors admitted her 1-year-old brother as a precaution.

The girl was admitted Thursday and was in satisfactory condition.

The bacteria can cause kidney failure in young children. A hospital spokesman said the girl had kidney complications, but was improving.

The children’s names were not released.

Dr. Larry Jecha of the Benton-Franklin Health Department said state health officials planned to question the family about where and what the children ate and about their activities.

The bacteria is most often spread through contaminated food, particularly undercooked hamburger. But the bacteria also has been spread through fecal matter in day cares and in swimming pools.

In the Richland cases, the children were being cared for at home, and health officials did not know whether they had been in a pool recently.

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