Eleven children hospitalized at Children’s Hospital in Reykjavik due to E. coli outbreak linked to daycare

Eleven children remain hospitalized at the Children’s Hospital in Reykjavik due to an E. coli outbreak linked to a local daycare center. Four of these children are currently in critical condition in the intensive care unit. The first child was discharged from the unit yesterday, but medical experts expect the other four will stay there for at least the next two weeks.

A total of 45 children have contracted the virus since the outbreak began last week, with more than 20 others under close medical supervision. All hospitalized children are isolated, and a large shared room in the intensive care unit has been set aside for them.

The situation at Landspítali and the Children’s Hospital is severe, with several non-urgent surgeries postponed to accommodate the influx of E. coli cases. Authorities are still investigating the source of the outbreak. Initial assessments suggest the infection may have spread through food served at the daycare, as illnesses began around the same time across all preschool groups.

Health inspectors have taken numerous food samples for analysis from meals provided at the daycare on the day the sickness began. Breakfast consisted of oatmeal, while lunch included ground meat or lentil dishes, followed by melon during snack time. Inspections of the daycare facilities and operational protocols have been conducted, leading to immediate sanitation measures. However, the daycare remains closed, and it is uncertain when it will reopen.

Investigations into possible sources of E. coli in local food products have not yet revealed conclusive findings. The outbreak marks a concerning incident, as such widespread infection has not been previously reported in the region.