Calgary daycare closes due to E. coli case

A Calgary daycare has closed after one of its students tested positive for E. coli.

The company at the centre of this closure is not new to the spotlight, as it was the head of a historic E. coli outbreak in Calgary last fall that ultimately led to 448 infections.

Fueling Brains Academy says in a statement to CityNews the closure is out of an abundance of caution after staff were notified a one-year-old who attends the company’s West 85th campus had tested positive for E. coli on the afternoon of Thursday, July 3.

“We promptly notified parents and Alberta Health Services. We have no evidence this originated at the campus, nor that it has spread; however, out of an abundance of caution, we voluntarily closed the West 85th campus for the remainder of the week to allow for deep cleaning and to ensure the safety and well-being of our students and staff,” the company said. “Safety remains a top priority and we are working with our families, our staff, and Alberta Health Services to determine next steps.”

In a statement to CityNews, Alberta Health Services says it is aware of the situation.

“AHS has reached out to the operator of the daycare facility to gather information on this situation,” the statement reads, in part. “AHS has not declared an outbreak at the facility at this time. Out of an abundance of caution, the operator has voluntarily closed the facility and is performing a deep clean.

“At this time, AHS does not have any evidence to suggest that there has been on-site transmission, however we will be monitoring this situation closely and will share more information as we learn more about this situation.”

Parents of children who attend the daycare are recommended to monitor their child’s health, and call Health Link at 811, or contact their family physician if they develop symptoms. If children develop severe symptoms, such as bloody diarrhea, parents are advised to take them to the emergency department.

A sign posted to the daycare asks parents not to bring their children there for the rest of the week — July 4 and 5.

An outbreak declared on Sept. 4, 2023 was linked to a central kitchen used by the daycares. It lasted for eight weeks.

During that time, over 30 kids and one adult were hospitalized, and 23 patients were diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome. Of those, eight patients needed dialysis.

The two directors of KidsU Centennial — operating as Fueling Brains Academy and Fueling Minds Incorporated — Faisal Alimohd and Anil Karim, are facing a fine of up to $120,000 for allegedly providing third-party food services to five Calgary childcare centres they didn’t own.

The city said last September the catering company had also been operating without a food services business license.

In total, the company faces 12 charges.

The pair plead not guilty to the charges in November 2023.

A trial date has now been set for Sept. 6, 2024.

The company is also the subject of a $10 million class action lawsuit, filed on behalf of impacted families.