Today the Alberta Health Services announced that it is “highly likely” that the source of an E. coli outbreak that has led to at least 164 cases in Calgary children is food that was distributed from a central kitchen shared between a number of Fueling Brains daycare sites in the city.
“Based on the epidemiology of the cases we’ve seen to date, it is highly likely the source of this outbreak is food that was distributed from the central kitchen,” AHS said in a statement.
“At this point, AHS has collected food samples for testing and awaiting results. At this time AHS has not been able to identify with certainty the exact food item that was the source. We continue to investigate.”
In a statement on Saturday afternoon, the health care agency said that there are now 164 lab-confirmed cases connected to this outbreak — up from 142 the day before.
There are currently 27 patients receiving care in hospital, with 19 confirmed as having severe illness or hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), acute kidney failure.
There are 11 Calgary daycares which have been issued a closure order until further notice following an outbreak of the shiga toxin-producing E. coli.
- Fueling Brains Braeside.
- Fueling Brains West 85th.
- Fueling Brains New Brighton.
- Fueling Brains Centennial.
- Fueling Brains Bridgeland.
- Fueling Brains McKnight.
- Braineer Academy.
- Kidz Space.
- Little Oak Early Education (formerly Mangrove).
- Almond Branch School.
- VIK Academy in Okotoks, Alta.