Officials Say Snow May Have Caused Belgium WI Child E coli Cluster
An investigation into a cluster of child E. coli cases in Belgium, Wisconsin, is continuing, but the Ozaukee County health officer has issued a press release saying the illnesses could have been caused by eating contaminated snow or ice.
In addition, the children had close contact with each other and could have passed it to each other, officials said.
A news release from the office of Ozaukee Health Officer Glenda Madlom said interviews conducted with family members for all three E. coli cases were unable to identify a common food item or other definite source of infection. "The source has not been absolutely determined but a possible explanation includes close contact or a common environmental source, such as contaminated snow or ice,'' the news release said.
The investigation -- aided by the state health department -- has identified two laboratory-confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection in siblings. One had onset in December and one had onset in January. A third case was identified in a neighbor who had onset in December and tested negative for E. coli infection, but is considered a probable case based on clinical symptoms.
Two of the three patients were hospitalized, and one remains hospitalized. At least one has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening complication of E coli O157:H7 infection that is the leading cause of kidney failure in children.
The Ozaukee Health Department also is investigating a case of laboratory-confirmed cryptosporidiosis in a child from the same neighborhood. At this time there is no evidence that this infection is related to the three E. coli cases, however the investigation is ongoing. Both cryptosporidium and E. coli are found on farms and in animal manure and Belgium is in a farming area.
As a precaution, the Village of Belgium tested its water supply over the weekend and determined that the water is safe. In addition, the health department is working closely with the DNR and the Ozaukee County Department of Land and Water to assist in evaluating environmental concerns.
