Shigella cases confirmed at McKernan School

Health officials confirm a number of children at McKernan Schoolhave come down with diarrheal illnesses.

Laboratory tests have confirmed at least two cases of shigella among students at the school, which serves children from kindergarten to Grade 9.

Symptoms of the intestinal infection include diarrhea, severe abdominal pain and fever.

Alberta Health Services is investigating a number of other cases at the school to see if they are related to shigella or not. No link has been determined, and officials continue to search for a source ofcontamination.

"Shigella is not as common as salmonella, but not uncommon," said AHS spokesperson Kerry Williamson in an email statement to CBC News.

"It's usually foodbornethrough a contaminated food source or infected food handler, or from person to personin households once one member is infected."

Children between the ages of 2 and 4 are most likely to get ashigella infection, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Health officials say the disease is usually spread through direct or indirect fecal-oral contact. This happens when:

• someone does not wash their hands carefully after using the washroom or changing a diaper and then prepares food for others;
• small children play together, especially in untreated wading pools or play fountains;
• vegetables or fruits come into contact with contaminated water or sewage runoff.

A mild case usually clears up on its own within a week, but sometimes antibiotics are required to rid the body of infection.