Alberta Health Services says E. coli cases related to daycare outbreak stable

AHS has traced the source of the E. coli outbreak to Fueling Minds, a central kitchen, but experts have not found the exact source of the contamination.

Alberta Health Services says the number of E. coli cases related to an outbreak at numerous Calgary daycares remains stable.

The health authority says there have been two additional lab-confirmed cases of the bacterial infection that have now been linked to the outbreak, up to 350 from 348 on the weekend.

Eight patients are still receiving care at Alberta Children's Hospital for hemolytic uremic syndrome, a complication affecting the blood and kidneys.

Two of those children are on dialysis, but the health authority says all patients are in stable condition and responding to treatment.

The outbreak affecting 11 Calgary daycares was declared more than two weeks ago.

All of those daycares have reopened, but the central kitchen that's believed to be the source of the outbreak has been closed indefinitely and five other daycares are either closed or partially closed due to secondary spread.

Calgary JCC Child Care had its closure order extended for its infant and toddler rooms after additional children showed symptoms. The cases are not yet confirmed positive for E. coli, but the facility is to remain closed until at least Monday.

The number of lab-confirmed secondary cases currently remains at 27.

A total of 825 children connected to the outbreak have been cleared to return to daycare.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Sept. 20, 2023.