An E. coli outbreak at a daycare center in Beaverton, OR has sickened five children. Test results on cultures from four of the children show that they were sickened by E. coli 0111, results on the fifth test are still pending.
Can I Sue a Daycare for E. coli?
At this time, none of the children have been hospitalized or developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication that affects about 10 percent of E. coli patients that can cause kidney failure, seizure stroke, coma and death.
“Young children often put their hands and toys in their mouths, so daycare facilities can quickly become hot zones for E. coli. Daycare facilities need to be aware of this and take steps to prevent the spread of E. coli,” stated Fred Pritzker, nationally-recognized food safety lawyer.
Currently, there is an ongoing E. coli outbreak at a Kid’s Place daycare center in Knoxville, Tennessee. Health officials there are investigating whether contact with farm animals may have been the cause of that outbreak. Other recent E. coli outbreaks at daycare centers include an E. coli outbreak at Montessori of Alameda In Portland, OR in March 2017. At least seven children developed HUS in that outbreak which was linked to a contaminated food product.
Symptoms of an E. coli Infection
E. coli infections occur when fecal matter from animals or humans is ingested. Symptoms of an infection usually develop within 72 hours of exposure and last about a week. They include abdominal cramps and diarrhea that can be bloody.
With a nationwide practice, the E. coli lawyers at Pritzker Hageman have represented clients in nearly every major outbreak over the last 20 years. They have secured multiple multi-million-dollar awards for E. coli HUS clients, including a $7.5 million verdict. Contact them for a free, no-obligation consultation about an E. coli illness.
