Published: September 21, 2007 06:09 pm      

6 p.m. UPDATE: Galena student hospitalized with E. coli

Second student in hospital with similar symptoms.

A Galena Elementary School student has contracted an E. coli infection and a second has been hospitalized with similar symptoms, school officials confirmed Friday afternoon.

“We don’t know the details, but we can say that the health department is investigating one confirmed and one suspected of E. coli,” said Bill Briscoe, assistant superintendent of operations and administration for the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp.

Both students, who were not identified, were hospitalized on Thursday. The Floyd County Department of Health confirmed in a news release at least one case of E. coli on Friday morning and said it suspected the other, but didn’t reveal further details.

Briscoe said school officials have been working closely with the health department since school staff was informed of two hospitalizations of students on Thursday.

“Obviously, safety is our No. 1 priority,” Briscoe said. “We’re very concerned about the students.”

Briscoe said two custodians were brought into the school to clean and scrub all surfaces and an extra nurse was brought in to provide additional support as a precaution on Friday. A letter was sent home to parents and posted on the corporation’s Web sites with a list of symptoms and precautionary measures to take.

Dave Rarick, a school spokesman, said the information is being distributed simply to inform parents of the situation.

“We don’t want to panic parents, but at the same time we want to make sure we let parents know what the symptoms are and what to look out for,” Rarick said.

E. coli infection can occur from eating contaminated foods, including improperly cooked ground beef, unwashed fruits and vegetables and contaminated water.

Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever, which usually appear two to 10 days after exposure. If individuals develop these symptoms, they should seek medical attention.

The most effective way to prevent infection is thorough hand-washing with warm soap and water for at least 20 seconds after using the restroom, before preparing food and before eating.