Bacterial infection in day-care centre

Parents at children attending Miðvágur’s Miðgarður day-care centre were informed on Friday of the presence of bacteria which cause diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and fever.

VTEC is a particular group of the Escherichia coli bacterium. Although most strains of E. coli are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals, VTEC strains produce a powerful toxin and can cause severe illness.

The reason Chief Medical Officer Lars Fodgaard Møller is now warning against this bacterium is that it can also lead to serious kidney disease.

Children under observation

Møller said yesterday that one child at the Miðgarður centre had been hospitalised and a few others have been sent for observation.

He adds that all known VTEC-related cases are restricted to a single room at the centre. People or animals infected with VTEC can pass it on in their faeces into soil, water and food.

Parents of children at Miðgarður are advised to see a doctor if they notice symptoms of diarrhoea.

Frequent and thorough handwashing is said to be the best prevention against VTEC.

Translated by prosa.fo