Shigella Cases Increase, Daycare Workers Take Prevention In Own Hands
By: Brendaliss Gonzalez
Updated: December 5, 2012
There are usually around six cases of Shigella per year.
However, this year since Aug., there have been about 20 cases per month in Abilene.
Many, especially daycare workers are taking preventative measures to prevent the bacteria from spreading any further than it already has.
If singing is the only way to get these kids to wash their hands.
They'll be using their vocal chords a lot more often.
It's all to prevent anyone at the Day Nursery of Abilene from getting Shigella, a bacteria that's been spreading faster than ever here in the Key City.
"If you treat everybody like they have something you don't want to have or if you have something that you don't want them to have, you know that's a universal precaution," said Cynthia Pearson, CEO of the Day Nursery of Abilene.
Employees like Ashleigh Hobbs are doing plenty of extra cleaning.
Three times a day, they spray toys, clean counters and disenfect everything around them to prevent any germs from spreading.
"And during nap times while the babies are sleeping we use our bleach water and we soak them and clean them with the bleach water and then put them all back," said Hobbs.
"All or those policies and procedures are in place to protect children and parents," said Pearson.
It's something they do even without any outbreaks, but recently they've been spraying a few extra times just in case.
"We like to stay healthy so they stay healthy," said Hobbs.
Parents are even doing their part.
"Because I know if I was the parent of another kid and my kid was being sent to school, I wouldn't want that," said Mandi Drahm, whose child goes to the daycare on a daily basis.
Here everyone is making sure to keep clean because you never know where those germs might linger.
Health experts at the city of Abilene encourage everyone to take a few extra steps to prevent getting Shigella.
Parents and childcare workers should disinfect toys to prevent any germs from spreading.
All diapers should be disposed of in a trashcan with a lid.
If you are infected, be sure wait at least18 hrs. before returning to work or school.
However, this year since Aug., there have been about 20 cases per month in Abilene.
Many, especially daycare workers are taking preventative measures to prevent the bacteria from spreading any further than it already has.
If singing is the only way to get these kids to wash their hands.
They'll be using their vocal chords a lot more often.
It's all to prevent anyone at the Day Nursery of Abilene from getting Shigella, a bacteria that's been spreading faster than ever here in the Key City.
"If you treat everybody like they have something you don't want to have or if you have something that you don't want them to have, you know that's a universal precaution," said Cynthia Pearson, CEO of the Day Nursery of Abilene.
Employees like Ashleigh Hobbs are doing plenty of extra cleaning.
Three times a day, they spray toys, clean counters and disenfect everything around them to prevent any germs from spreading.
"And during nap times while the babies are sleeping we use our bleach water and we soak them and clean them with the bleach water and then put them all back," said Hobbs.
"All or those policies and procedures are in place to protect children and parents," said Pearson.
It's something they do even without any outbreaks, but recently they've been spraying a few extra times just in case.
"We like to stay healthy so they stay healthy," said Hobbs.
Parents are even doing their part.
"Because I know if I was the parent of another kid and my kid was being sent to school, I wouldn't want that," said Mandi Drahm, whose child goes to the daycare on a daily basis.
Here everyone is making sure to keep clean because you never know where those germs might linger.
Health experts at the city of Abilene encourage everyone to take a few extra steps to prevent getting Shigella.
Parents and childcare workers should disinfect toys to prevent any germs from spreading.
All diapers should be disposed of in a trashcan with a lid.
If you are infected, be sure wait at least18 hrs. before returning to work or school.
