Wash. day care stayed open after E. coli found

  SEATTLE — County health officials didn't close a Washington state day care for several days after children were hospitalized with a deadly strain of E. coli — because of concerns the infection would spread farther if parents took their children elsewhere. A 4-year-old boy died after being infected at the Vancouver, Wash., center, and three other children were sickened. The first case was reported March 19. But Clark County health officer Dr. Alan Melnick said he didn't shut down Fletch Family Daycare until April 2 out of concern that other parents who used the facility could take their children to different day cares and risk exposing others. Melnick's decision to close the facility came after tests showed seven more children and staff with no symptoms tested positive for the E. coli strain. "This is really tragic and we're certainly concerned about the kids who were hospitalized, but we're also concerned about keeping this from spreading to other parts of the community," Melnick said Saturday. He said he felt confident the infection has not spread further and that health officials are closely monitoring the children and staff of the closed center. Melnick said three children who were hospitalized are at home recovering; he declined to release their ages or other details. Melnick also did not release the date when the 4-year-old child died. That child's death was reported Friday. The strain involved, E. coli O157:H7, is best known for its role in large outbreaks traced to ground beef or produce. However, person-to-person transmission can be a problem