North Quincy day care closes after confirmed case of typhoid fever

QUINCY, Mass. — A day care in North Quincy has closed after a child came down with a case of typhoid fever.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health tells Boston 25 News that they have one confirmed case of typhoid fever in a child at the Bright Horizons location at One Enterprise Drive in North Quincy.

The private day care for employees of Blue Cross Blue Shield is closed because so many teachers are waiting for test results, they can't staff the day care.

NEW: @BrightHorizons daycare closed in North Quincy after child comes down with case of typhoid fever. State and local health officials investigating. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/fGseNgM5ID
— Kathryn Burcham (@kathrynburcham) May 10, 2018

Hala Abdel-Baky and her 19-month-old Jenna were heading into the Quincy Health Department when Boston 25 News reporter Kathryn Burcham saw them.

"I was definitely concerned and I was like OK, I don't know what to expect. I just want to make sure she's OK," said Abdel-Baky. "They send emails and told us they're doing deep cleaning and stuff like that.

Parents are getting their children tested for typhoid at Quincy Health Dept. One mom says it was a child in the toddler class who had been overseas and became infected @boston25 pic.twitter.com/rtxxfTzjiw
— Kathryn Burcham (@kathrynburcham) May 10, 2018

According to the CDC, typhoid is caused by a salmonella bacteria and symptoms include fever, fatigue, weakness, stomach pains, headache and rash. It's spread through contaminated food or water.

A vaccine is recommended, but not for children younger than two.

Bright Horizons says the little boy had recently traveled overseas where he contracted the infection.

Now, many students and staff are being tested to make sure they weren't exposed to the sometimes deadly disease.

Bright Horizons says the day care has been thoroughly cleaned and after meeting with parents Thursday, they hope to reopen soon, possibly with substitute teachers while other staff await results.

According to the CDC,typhoid symptoms include: