Cases of E. coli in Calgary daycares slowing, ‘clear indication’ of spike: AHS

The number of cases of E. coli linked to an outbreak at Calgary daycares that began in late August appears to be stabilizing, a “clear indication” that the outbreak of initial infections has peaked, Alberta Health Services (AHS) says .

The official opposition wants an independent inquiry into how hundreds of children were infected with a preventable disease. However, the Prime Minister appears to be sticking to her comments regarding the addition of the E outbreak. Shiga toxin-producing coli (STEC) review of the province’s response to COVID-19.

As of Monday, AHS said there were 348 laboratory-confirmed cases linked to the outbreak, an increase of six from Saturday and an increase of 11 from Friday.

Twenty-seven of those were secondary cases, four more than Saturday, but no additional secondary transmissions were confirmed Sunday, the AHS said.

Calgary-area hospitals were seeing nine patients, down 12 from Saturday, all with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious kidney and blood disease. Three patients were on dialysis, half as many as Saturday.

“We are seeing clear indications that the outbreak linked to the initial exposure has reached its peak,” the AHS said.

Seven daycares remain closed after child victims of the epidemic were suspected of attending them:

• 1st cla*s daycare Shawnessy, main room of the daycare
• Childcare Active child
• Cancare Scenic Acres Children’s Center
• CEFA Early Learning Calgary South
• Renert Kindergarten
• Calgary JCC Daycare
• VIK Academy at Thornhill Child Care in Okotoks

Some children and staff cannot return to MTC child care while waiting for a negative E. coli test and relief of symptoms.

Provincial health authorities said 642 children linked to the outbreak had been allowed to return to daycares.

The AHS declared the outbreak on September 4.

The Alberta NDP wants the government to conduct a public, independent inquiry into one of the worst E. coli outbreaks. coli of Canadian history.

Calgary-Acadia MP Diana Batten said the kitchen believed to be at the heart of the outbreak was allowed to continue operating despite health inspectors finding several critical violations. These violations were often addressed the same day as the inspection.

“Clearly, we weren’t doing enough to keep our children safe. Public health violations have not been properly addressed and there appears to be a serious breakdown in health inspection processes,” Batten said.

The Opposition critic for child care and children and family services also questioned how clear the communication with parents of children affected by the initial outbreak had been and whether this could have prevented further transmission.

Batten wants to see an external, independent investigation into the outbreak itself and the systemic circumstances that led to it.

“We need people who have no vested interest in the outcome of this investigation. So we need people who are completely unbiased, who are just there with the facts, who will follow the research and provide our best advice to help our children,” said the Calgary-Acadia MLA.

If a thorough investigation were conducted, it would follow in the footsteps of another E. coli outbreak. coli which set national records.

The epidemic of E. coli outbreak in Walkerton, Ontario, in May 2000, was the subject of a two-part report released in January 2002, describing the events and series of failures that led to the contamination of the water supply, infecting thousands and k*****g seven. The reports also recommended ways to improve water quality and public health in Ontario.

Associate Justice Dennis R. O’Connor was appointed commissioner of the Walkerton inquiry.

Saturday on Your province, your premierSmith suggested that the investigation into the E. coli be included in an ongoing review of the province’s response to COVID-19.

“We are in the process of carrying out a public health review,” the prime minister said on Corus radio stations. “I have hired Preston Manning to, as you know, review all legislation related to our response during the (COVID-19) pandemic. And the Public Health Act seems fair to him with many different recommendations. This will therefore have to be added to it.

PKBNEWS is owned by Corus.

Smith suggested one change could be to amend the requirements for food handling certificates, bringing them in line with alcohol consumption requirements. Currently, anyone working in a licensed establishment that serves alcohol must complete a course to be certified.

“We may need to do the same thing for food safety cla*ses. As I understand it, it is necessary for at least one person in the kitchen to take food safety courses, but perhaps everyone who works in food preparation needs to do so,” she said on Saturday .

On Monday, Smith reiterated his commitment last week to getting to the bottom of what happened at Calgary daycares and explained how the former Reform Party leader would help.

“I had asked Preston Manning to review the range of legal changes that might be necessary to determine what the next response to the pandemic should be. And so the public health law is part of that,” Smith said Monday. “But I think he’s looking at seven or eight other pieces of legislation.”

One parent of a child infected by the outbreak would prefer to see the “consequences” rather than an investigation.

“I really think it’s more about looking at how did this happen, why did this happen and what can we put in place right now? And we have these answers. We have the answers to how this happened and why the guidelines in place have absolutely no consequences if they are not followed,” said Kate Maxwell.

“There has to be some sort of consequence to this.” So I would like to see consequences when people are no longer allowed to operate.”

Maxwell wonders what kind of precedent was set by allowing daycares to reopen in light of an E. coli outbreak. coli.

“(This precedent) says you can do this to children. It does not matter. You can continue to function normally,” she said.

AHS confirmed the kitchen remains closed Monday.

The lack of national child care standards is a result of the free market approach taken, a child care policy researcher told PKBNEWS.

“We’re in this situation across the country because we’ve never developed child care as a system and we’ve never set out to develop quality child care. So it was all left to chance, to contractors or parent groups,” said Martha Friendly, executive director of the Child Care Resource and Research Unit.

And after the federal government signed agreements to provide funds to significantly reduce child care costs for families, the country finds itself in a de facto position where it must attempt to develop a child care system. children.

“We’re in a transition phase, hopefully, where the provinces — and some of them — have strategies on how they’re going to expand public and not-for-profit child care, which is preferred in the new program. » Said friendly.

She said food safety standards must be fundamental for childcare services, emphasizing that nutritional value is also important.

The daycare researcher said an investigation into the outbreak at Calgary daycares is an opportunity to examine the interplay between food handling and childcare policies.

“This should not only trigger a review of food handling and child care – which I think is uncertain because of the way some child care policies work around food – it should also trigger a review of how food is handled.”