E. coli cases linked to Calgary daycares increases to 142

The Calgary daycares linked to an E. coli outbreak could reopen early next week.

The update comes as a potential class-action lawsuit is being considered by some parents whose children were infected.

Alberta Health Services says there are 142 lab-confirmed cases of E. coli, up from 128 a day earlier, connected to an outbreak at up to 11 Calgary daycares.

Dr. Francesco Rizzuti, who’s the medical officer of health in Calgary, said four of those 11 sites have had no reported E. coli cases and would be allowed to reopen Monday if that continues.

He says health and safety of the children and staff are the top priority and the facilities will only reopen if the health authority is confident health and safety won’t be affected.

Rizzuti says the remaining seven facilities could be allowed to reopen Tuesday, but all children and staff will be required to show proof of a negative test before they can return.

Many parents with children impacted are sharing online that they believe meatloaf was to blame, as 11 daycares across Calgary and Okotoks use the same central kitchen.

They add that their kids first started feeling ill days after they ate the food.

The first reports of kids suffering from symptoms, such as bloody diarrhea, were reported last weekend, and many experts are not ruling out more cases in the days ahead.

AHS has launched a website with information for parents of kids attending these daycares to give them insight on what to do if their kids have any symptoms.