The E. coli attorneys at Marler Clark represented six children who were victims of this E. coli outbreak. Two Mississippi children were hospitalized due to acute kidney failure and the families of Alabama and Louisiana children also stricken by E. coli O157:H7. All cases were settled, with compensation for medical expenses, wage loss and future medical complications related to the illnesses.
As of August 9, 2021, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) identified several cases of E. coli O157 infection associated with use of the swimming pool and/or splashpad at the Jellystone Park Camp Resort in Pelahatchie, Mississippi.
The cases identified had exposure dates occurring on the weekend of July 30th through August 1st, but additional exposures may have occurred through August 9, 2021. The pool and splashpad were closed on August 9, 2021.
The MSDH conducted an investigation to identify any additional cases and work to determine the source of the outbreak. The management of the Jellystone Park Camp Resort cooperated with the investigation and response.
E. coli O157 infection can be a serious illness, especially in very young children and the elderly, and is associated with severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), vomiting and fever. Some individuals develop a severe and potentially life-threatening condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS occurs about a week after symptoms first appear, as they are improving. It can lead to kidney failure in some cases. Early symptoms of HUS can be associated with decreased urination and fatigue.
Symptoms of E. coli infection usually develop three to four days after exposure, with a range between one and 10 days. Outbreaks with recreational waters such as pools and splashpads can occur when waters become contaminated by an infected person through diarrhea or fecal contamination, and other swimmers then swallow the water, becoming exposed and infected. Person to person transmission can also occur.