Almost every night before he goes to bed, my almost 3-year-old son Jack gets his iguana backpack on and says he’s going to school. In a couple of weeks he will be: he starts preschool will regularly be under someone else’s care for a few hours a week.

And exposed to a bunch of new pathogens.

I’m still a paranoid new parent and a self-proclaimed food safety nerd; I worry about how the preschool will handle his lunch and whether handwashing (for kids and staff) will be valued. I’m also worried about the staff’s awareness of risky situations, their relationship with the health department and what folks will do if something goes wrong.

An April 2010 E. coli O157:H7 outbreak at a Vancouver, Washington child care facility, Fletch Family Daycare led to the death of a 4-year-old boy. Ronan Wilson tragically lost his life after a short battle with the pathogen. Four other children were also hospitalized. In total, thirteen cases were confirmed, including a couple of individuals who were asymptomatic (but shedding). At the time, investigators reported that illnesses began in early March with children displaying minor foodborne illness symptoms, and the children continued to attend the facility.
According to The Columbian, Ronan Wilson’s parents have filed a claim against the Clark County Health Department stating that health officials were negligent in their handling of the case.

County officials reviewed a report Clark County Public Health staff prepared in September regarding the department’s response and conducted additional research before deciding to deny the claim, county spokeswoman Mary Keltz said. “The prosecuting attorney’s office has reviewed the situation with both the risk management office and the health department, and jointly they came to the conclusion spelled out in that letter,” Keltz said.

In the July 28 letter, County Risk Manager Mark Wilson expressed condolences on behalf of the county, but wrote “with all due respect, we must deny this claim.” Filing a claim is the first step in pursuing a case against a public agency. From here, the family can ask to settle with the county, drop the claim or file a lawsuit, Wilson said.

In the claim, Anthony and Bonnie Wilson argue the county health department was negligent and didn’t “reasonably alert the medical community, the general public or the public schools of the E. coli outbreak in a timely manner.” The claim also says the county failed to prevent or control the outbreak from spreading, supervise the health and sanitation conditions of the Fletch Family Daycare, institute appropriate control measures after learning of the outbreak and close the day care center.

I recognize the tough situation that the center is in, especially when parents may not have an alternative for care (and in poor economic times may not be able to take time away from work obligations). Childcare folks, with or without the help of the health department need to be able to recognize an outbreak and do everything they can to reduce the likelihood of spreading the illnesses throughout their facility – and make tough decisions about sending ill kids and staff home.