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8 Children Contract E. coli in the Evergreen Mountain Area (Colorado)

By Pritzker | Ruohonen

Jefferson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is investigating a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 infections in 8 children, aged 4-12 years of age, in the Evergreen mountain area. 

The children contracted E. coli from July through October. Testing by the Colorado Public Health Laboratory has identified similarities in the specific strains of E. coli O157:H7 infecting several of the children, leading health officials to believe that the E. coli infections may be linked to a common source or exposure.  According to the Denver Post: 

State and local health officials are investigating possible sources of exposure, including deer and elk droppings, as well as common behaviors, activities, foods and drinks.

"We are doing a comprehensive investigation," said Gayle Miller, an epidemiologist with the Jefferson County Department of Health and Environment. "We don't have a smoking gun. We don't know yet what the source is."

All of the earliest affected children have fully recovered without complications. Two children who became ill in mid-late October required hospitalization in a Denver area hospital after developing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can lead to kidney failure.  The Denver Post reported:

An 11-year-old girl has been in Children's Hospital since Monday, her grandmother said Thursday.

"She's doing better, but it has affected her kidneys," said the woman, who did not want to be identified.

Our law firm is currently representing E. coli victims who developed HUS.  To contact our law firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 or submit our online consultation form.

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on November 01, 2008 (boomark / email).