CALGARY — The number of E. coli cases linked to an outbreak at several Calgary daycares has continued to rise, but doctors say there are fewer patients in hospital with serious complications.
There were 310 lab-confirmed cases of the bacterial infection as of Wednesday. The outbreak at 11 Calgary daycares was declared Sept. 4.
"It can be frightening to see these numbers, especially a jump in the last few days," Dr. Tania Principi, section chief of pediatric emergency medicine at Alberta Children's Hospital, told reporters during a news conference Wednesday.
"This increase in numbers we're seeing has more to do (with) when we're getting results from the lab on those tested previously. But actually, clinically in the (emergency department), we are seeing (a) significant decrease in the number of children presenting with illness."
Principi said 14 patients have been discharged from hospitals since the beginning of the outbreak.
Twenty-one patients were still receiving care at Alberta Children's Hospital. Twenty of those children have hemolytic uremic syndrome, a complication affecting the blood and kidneys.
Seven patients were on peritoneal dialysis, which is a treatment for kidney failure and a way to remove waste products from the blood.
"We're seeing that the patients on dialysis and even our HUS numbers have been fairly stable," said Principi. "We're not seeing a significant rise in that, but we're continuing to do tests and follow this last group of patients."
There have been 18 E. coli cases from secondary transmissions, but she said all of those cases have been within households linked to the outbreak.
"If we're able to continue to contain that secondary spread, we should be through the largest hump now and see potentially some increase in case numbers … as tests come back," said Principi. "But, in terms of sick children and people, we should be at the tail end."
Several fundraisers are in the works to support parents whose children got sick.
"I feel like this could have been any one of us," said Cathy Wang, a Calgary engineer who's organizing a campaign to support families. "I send my older one to daycare every single day, and I expect him to have fun and be safe."
She and nine other parents from affected daycares have started a GoFundMe account and are using the money to make meals, buy non-perishable foods and make care packages for the families and goody bags for the children.
Some people have also been dropping off coffee or meals at the Alberta Children's Hospital for parents whose children are still receiving care.
"It's a difficult time for them because, with their kids this young, they can't leave their bedside," Wang said Thursday. "Because they have to stay by their children's side, it means they cannot work."
Doctors and nurses have been fantastic, but there hasn't been much support from daycares or other agencies, she said.
"These families, for example, don't qualify for (employment insurance) and they don't have other avenues of income," said Wang.
Meanwhile, the daycares have been allowed to reopen.
"I want to stress that the closure orders were rescinded only after Alberta Health Services determined that the facilities are safe environments," Dr. Francesco Rizzuti, medical officer of health for Calgary, said Wednesday.
"Our AHS inspectors visited all 11 daycares to review conditions in each facility and ensure they met requirements for safe operation under the Public Health Act."
A spokesman for the daycares said in an email that the well-being of the children, parents and staff remains the priority and that the daycares have had extensive cleaning and sterilization before they reopened.
"We have been in regular communication with our families and staff to ensure reopening requirements are met, along with implementing any changes in our operations and processes that are required," said Kent Hehr, a former member of Parliament who's a vice-president with Fueling Brains.
"All food will be provided by parents or sourced by external providers."
A report released by Alberta Health Services earlier this week said public health inspectors found improper sanitation, live cockroaches and issues around food handling in a central kitchen for the daycares that was closed due to the E. coli outbreak.
Rizzuti said the kitchen would not be allowed to reopen until the critical health violations are fully addressed.
Investigators are still looking for the source of the outbreak, he added.
"We have not identified a food source at this point," said Rizzuti, noting the most likely source was food distributed from the central kitchen.
— With files from Jamin Mike in Edmonton.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14, 2023.
Colette Derworiz, The Canadian Press
