May 12, 2009

Bacteria outbreaks reported in eastern Racine County schools, day cares

Local health officials are dealing with an outbreak of two types of bacteria in day care centers and schools.

Michele Breheim, epidemiologist, told the Board of Health Wednesday there are 19 cases of shigella and 10 cases of campylobacter in eastern Racine County since mid-April.

The cases have been discovered at three day care centers and two schools, all in Mount Pleasant and Caledonia, Breheim said. The Racine Health Department is involved because several of the cases involve Racine residents.

Both bacterias spread through oral-fecal contamination, Breheim said. Symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting, she said.

There are typically cases of shigella and campylobacter reported in eastern Racine County every year, Breheim said. But 29 cases of the bacteria in less than a month is unusual, she said.

Campylobacter is typically spread through contact with uncooked poultry, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's rarely spread person to person, though can spread through stool to oral contamination.

Shigella is typically spread from person to person, according to the CDC. The bacteria is passed fom stool to oral contamination.

2 comments:

  1. Will we be told which schools and day care centers are involved? Might be good for us to know.

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  2. Atonement Lutheran needs a health inspection! Do something about the top floor bathrooms which no one can off their butts get up the stairs and do something about

    ReplyDelete