In a show of support, and apparent empathy, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith turns emotional while discussing what the children of Calgary re being put through. One doctor described e. coli as akin to “acid” in the wall of the children’s intestines, and referred to it as a “brutal” bacteria. This was confirmed by one national e. coli lawyer, who stated:
“E. coli is immediately suspect when a child’s stools become watery and full of blood. Bloody diarrhea is the key to determining if a person has e. coli, a Shiga-toxin producing bacteria. Other bacteria caused diarrhea, but not with this amount of blood. For children this is a very dangerous condition, as it can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, known by the acronym HUS. It is dangerous and can be fatal.”
Online bloggers are calling for justice and an investigation allover Canada. On e blogger noted: “Albertan’s need an independently conducted inquiry (3rd party, with police assistance as required) into both the source of the E-Coli outbreak and the failure of the health inspectors to enforce their own public health orders at the kitchen. Why was enforcement not pursued? Were the inspectors in any way pressured to not enforce their protocols?”
Another set the blame at the government’s feet: “The Government is responsible for oversight and is fully responsible by way of either not being diligent in that oversight or not creating a system that can be. The outbreak happened because it was allowed to happen. They will not take responsibility because they never do. This is not a Partisan problem but purely incompetence within the entire bureaucracy of Government.”
Still others were sympathetic to Premier Danielle Smith: “This must have been so hard for her to speak out to this. I know 2 kids that are sick at home. 30 day quarantine at home until its out of their systems. Parent has to take a month off work with no pay.”
The outbreak has currently affected over 300 kids, and the daycares are closed. The common kitchen at the heart fo the entire outbreak is believed to be KidsU Centennial – Fueling Minds Inc. It had been given red-flag violations from Alberta Health Services.
A petition amongst parents, with nearly 1000 signatures, is circulating. In part it stated: “None of us suspected our children were at risk of ingesting E. coli while in childcare. We trusted not only our daycare facility but that the government itself had regulations in place that were keeping them safe.”
Fortunately, none of the chidden have succumb to the illness.
