E. coli outbreak strikes Beaverton learning center

BEAVERTON, Ore. — Washington County health leaders say there's been an E. coli outbreak at the Beaverton location of Kids Incorporated Learning Center.

"The illness came on quickly as far as the amount of children that became diagnosed," said Justyne Squires, regional manager for Kids Incorporated. "They were all contained to one classroom."

School leaders say one child showed stomach flu-like symptoms in late May. That child's family then sought medical care from their primary care provider. That child was later found to have a strain of E. coli and the result was automatically forwarded on to the Washington County Health Department. After more kids became ill, Kids Incorporated leaders say they chose to voluntarily close the Beaverton location on a temporary basis.

"No staff members became ill, no children outside of this one classroom became ill but because more children in this classroom were getting this illness, we chose to do a voluntary closure," said Squires.

County health leaders say they immediately began to work with the school to contain the illness.

"We wanted to ensure that all of the best infection control practices are in place and that the environment is clean and healthy and safe," said Christina Baumann, Health Officer with Washington County.

Even though school leaders voluntarily chose to close the school, the facility's license still went into a suspended status. School leaders say they're working with the state office of child care to make the license valid again. They hope to open within a few days.

While this particular strain of e-coli can lead to serious complications, county health leaders say that didn't happen to any of the five children diagnosed.

While the outbreak was able to spread at Kids Incorporated, it didn't necessarily begin there. Officials say the first child to become sick may have contracted the illness elsewhere.

"We are still investigating and asking parents to report if their children have become ill," said Baumann.

Kids Incorporated officials say parents are not being charged tuition during the school's closure.