E. coli kills toddler; health unit to investigate infection source

April 9, 2005
The Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo Record
B1
Johanna Weidner And Anne Kelly

Shannon McBride was cited as cradling her two-year-old son in her arms for hours, then bathed his tiny body before wrapping him in a blanket again, and then she had to let go, adding, "He was so cold and stiff I couldn't hold him anymore because he didn't feel like him."

The story says that Cyrell Watson-McBride died Wednesday of an E.coli infection, just days after the Waterloo boy became ill.

Region of Waterloo Public Heath was cited as saying there's not an outbreak of E.coli in the region, although they are investigating the source of Cyrell's infection.

The story explains that Cyrell got sick late last week, starting with diarrhea on Friday and then vomiting by Saturday night. McBride called the family doctor Sunday and was told to go to emergency at Grand River Hospital. She and Cyrell arrived at Grand River at 11:30 a.m., the triage nurse checked his vital signs and the mother and son took a seat in the waiting room.

By early afternoon, McBride said, Cyrell's diarrhea was bloody and that continued every half hour. She said she showed a nurse the bloody diapers, but the nurse told her not to worry.

At around 5:30 p.m., McBride said, he was seen by a doctor, who ordered tests. The doctor suspected an obstruction and X-rays were taken but showed no signs of a blockage in his bowel.

At 4 a.m. on Wednesday, his heart stopped. Ten minutes of chest compressions and epinephrine revived the toddler, but doctors warned McBride it could happen again.

The story goes on to say that public health is investigating the cause of Cyrell's E.coli infection, which is the same strain that tainted Walkerton's water -- killing seven people and sickening 2,500 -- in May 2000. Public health is tracing everything Cyrell ate and places he went -- especially during the Easter weekend, when it's believed he was exposed to the bacteria.

Chris Komorowski, the region's manager of food safety and infection control was quoted as saying the case is isolated and "there's not an outbreak."