Legal news for Washington personal injury attorneys. One child is dead after being infected with E. coli while at daycare.

Washington personal injury lawyers alert- An E. coli outbreak at a Vancouver, WA daycare left one child dead.

Vancouver, WA—One child is dead while others are sick after a strain of E. coli was passed around at a Washington state daycare. Officials believe the strain was spread child to child even though appropriate hygienic practices were present, causing officials to shut down the facility, as reported by USA Today.

The deadly strain of E. coli has hospitalized four kids and killed a 4-year-old boy on Friday, April 9, 2010. Three of the kids have since been released. The daycare facility, Fletch Family Daycare in Vancouver, Wash., has been temporarily shut down until the contamination is under control. The Department of Early Learning was notified of the hospitalizations concerning the E. coli O157:H7 bacteria strain on March 19. An investigation was launched, in which health officials determined the daycare’s hygienic practices were acceptable, but still shut it down on April 2 after it was confirmed that the bacteria was spreading from person to person.

Investigators have yet to determine an exact cause for the outbreak. The bacteria could have been spread by caretakers failing to properly wash their hands after toilet use or changing diapers. Although E. coli is a common and ordinarily harmless bacterium, harmful strains can arise which cause abdominal cramps, fever, bloody diarrhea, kidney failure, blindness, paralysis and death.

Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for Washington personal injury lawyers.