Health Officials Investigating E. coli Cases; Two Children Infected
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Health Officials Investigating E. coli Cases;...
A Tri-Cities boy could receive a blood transfusion today as he recovers from an E. coli infection. Meanwhile, the Northeast Tennessee Health Office is now investigating the case and trying to identify...
Associated Press Graphic
A Tri-Cities boy could receive a blood transfusion Thursday as he recovers from an E. coli infection. Meanwhile, the Northeast Tennessee Health Office is now investigating the case and trying to identify the source of the potentially deadly bacteria.
Just days ago, doctors at the Johnson City Medical Center discovered four year-old Gage Peterson had an E. coli infection. Richard Peterson expects his son to receive a blood transfusion at some point Thursday as he remains in the hospital.
According to a Johnson City Medical Center spokesperson, three weeks prior to Peterson’s admission, another child came into the hospital with an E. coli infection. That child is now in the pediatric ICU. The Virginia Department of Health confirmed the case of that Southwest Virginia child Thursday.
“There seems to be no known link between the two cases,“ Virginia Department of Health Spokesperson Bobby Parker said.
That said, the Virginia and Tennessee Health Departments have yet to identify the cause of the E. coli infections.
“Any case that comes to the health department, we follow up on,“ Northeast Regional Health Office Director of Communicable Disease Jamie Swift said. “We interview the patient, look at possible exposures and just see where they got it and make sure there’s no further transmission.“
As that investigation continues, Bill Francisco wants the two latest cases to serve as a reminder of just how dangerous E. coli can be. Francisco’s six year-old son Jacob died from an E. coli infection in 2004.
“The danger is still present and it won’t stop until we raise more awareness in our community with food safety and water safety and hand washing,“ Francisco said. “It hurts a lot. It breaks my heart that this is still happening and I know we can’t completely prevent it from happening, but two kids in the hospital at this time, my thoughts go to the family and I know what they’re going through. I just hope that these kids get better.“
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Reader Reactions
poor baby :( having the go through something so serious as this at such a young age. I hope that theyfind out where this cae from soon. Is there any chance that this came from some food he ate or somethng like that?
Our hearts go out to Gage and the Peterson family. The organization that I work with, S.T.O.P., has been working with families of E.coli victims for the past 16 years. We can offer many resources for those with questions or concerns about illnesses from e.coli. We have a toll free helpline if anyone has concerns, 1-800-350-STOP.
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