Ecoli cases in Evergreen, Col no source ID'd

DENVER -- Eight children, between the ages of 4 and 12, have tested positive for the same Escherichia coli bacteria but officials don't know the connection.
Denver Channel 7 news

The children live, or have been, in the Evergreen area but don't attend the same school, a health official told 7NEWS Friday morning.

Two of the children remain hospitalized as a result of infections from the potentially deadly bacteria.

State and County health officials are investigating deer or elk droppings, along with other behaviors in the Evergreen area where the children might have all come in contact.

The first infection case involving the O157: H7 strain was reported in July and the last case was reported on Oct. 22, health officials said. That strain of E. coli cause disease by making a toxin called Shiga toxin.

From the Denver Post
"State and local health officials are investigating possible sources of exposure, including deer and elk droppings, as well as common behaviors, activities, foods and drinks.

"We are doing a comprehensive investigation," said Gayle Miller, an epidemiologist with the Jefferson County Department of Health and Environment. "We don't have a smoking gun. We don't know yet what the source is."

The children, ages 4 to 12, do not attend the same school, but they live or have been in the Evergreen area, Miller said. Six of the cases are in Jefferson County, and two are in adjacent counties. Miller would not identify those counties.

An 11-year-old girl has been in Children's Hospital since Monday, her grandmother said Thursday.