Tutor Time Shigellosis

Tutor Time Child Care has confirmed that one of the children in their care has the bacterial infection shigellosis.

Some parents say they are concerned. 

"It kind of concerns me that they're taking such precautions.  I mean kids catch things all the time," said Mandi Miller, parent of a child enrolled at Tutor Time.  "So it kind of makes me wonder what's so strange about this that the Health Department is involved?" she said.

The Erie County Health Department says shigellosis is very contagious. 

It is a bacterial infection that causes severe and sometimes bloody diarrhea. 

The infected child enrolled at Tutor Time has been hospitalized. 

The day care center notified parents with a letter. 

The letter stated:

"The health and safety of our children, families and staff is of the utmost importance to us at Tutor Time. Therefore, we wanted take this opportunity to inform you that we have a confirmed case of shigellosis at our center.  The symptoms of shigellosis include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Shigellosis can be treated with antibiotics and usually lasts for five to seven days. If your child is currently displaying symptoms, we will require a doctor’s note for them to return.  We hope that you can understand that this is for the well-being of everyone at our center."

The center is currently closed and will be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized.  Tutor Time hopes to have the center open on Monday.

"If there is schigella diagnosed in something like a child care facility or some type of group setting, anyone else who is enrolled in that facility who develops diarrhea symptoms should be evaluated as quickly as possible," said Charlotte Berringer of the Erie County Health Department.

Berringer says the best way to prevent the disease is to wash your hands thoroughly before handling food and after using the bathroom or changing diapers.