Toddler Died from Strep, not a Meningococcal Infection

The death on Tuesday of a 13-month old Rhode Island child who attended a daycare facility in Warren was from an invasive form of strep bacteria, officials from the state Department of Health said Thursday.

There were concerns that the child’s tragic death was a meningococcal infection and officials from the health department met with parents of children who attend The Children’s Workshop daycare earlier this week in an effort to address concerns. Other children at the daycare were administered preventative antibiotics.

The director of health department, Nicole Alexander-Scott said the child’s death was a rare and isolated case.

“We do not believe this is a threat to public health,” Alexander-Scott said.

The toddler’s infection was from a Group A streptococcus bacteria which can cause strep throat or other symptoms in its non-invasive form.

When the bacteria invasive and enters the bloodstream, which occurs much less frequently than non-invasive infections, people with weak or compromised immune systems can become severely ill.

Alexander-Scott said it isn’t clear why the toddler’s infection became invasive or why it progressed so rapidly.

“It was a freak case,” she said at Thursday’s news briefing. “This is not usually the outcome.”

Despite assurances that there is no public health risk, families who are part of the community at the daycare are mourning the loss of a child.