Four children have recently been made ill by the Cryptosporidium and E. Coli food poisoning bacteria’s, but the origin of the illness has yet to be determined. The children, who all live within a one block area of each other in Belgium, Wisconsin, have very little if any interaction with each other, and officials are trying to figure out how this happened.
Ozaukee County public health director Glenda Madlom stated that two cases of E. Coli food poisoning have been confirmed, and that another child’s illness is probably the same. However another child, Chris Golden, is suffering from the bacterial infection Cryptosporidium and clostridium difficile and is recovering at home. He is said to be taking antibiotics, but had lost about 10 percent of his body weight.
So far, the water supply has been tested by a company for these bacteria’s and those results returned as negative. The wells at the homes of the children were tested, and there is no indication that the water is contaminated. The village president, Kevin Kowalkowski, stated that they have done everything they could to determine how these children became ill, and can find nothing that the village might be at fault for.
Of course the parents of the children are very concerned. These types of infections can lead to serious risks and complications, especially in young children. The parents can find nothing the children have in common except for the fact that they meet outside to wait for the school bus. The lack of any source for the children’s infection is very disconcerting for the parents.
Kathleen Bleau, the county’s communicable disease program manager, states that a look at the possibility that the infections were spread person-to-person has to be considered. The village president doubts that they will find the answer, but says they continue to try to narrow down the possible source by examining commonalities among the families involved.
Cryptosporidium infection can be spread by those who are ill and do not take the proper measures to make sure they do not infect others. Eating foods contaminated with the bacteria or not taking precautionary measures may spread the infection. Those who prepare or manufacture foods should make certain they wash their hands thoroughly each time they visit the toilet, and when handling raw or tainted foods to prevent spreading the infection to others.
Cryptosporidium infection usually only produces stomach flu symptoms that are short-lived, but can lead to serious complications in those most at risk, such as the young children mentioned above.
