A North Quincy daycare center is closed after officials confirmed a case of typhoid fever in one child.
The child contracted the rare disease after traveling overseas, a daycare official from Bright Horizons told 7News.
Children and teachers are undergoing tests as the Massachusetts and Quincy Public Health Departments work to prevent the spreading of the disease, a spokeswoman for Mass. DPH said.
A parent whose daughter attends the daycare said the situation has left her rattled.
“It was very scary, very scary,” said the woman, who asked to remain anonymous. “Then you start Googling what is this, what does it mean. I mean, I have an infant, so it’s even more dangerous in that age range.”
Typhoid fever is spread through contaminated food and water or close contact with someone who has it. The disease is potentially fatal. Symptoms include high fever, stomach pain and sometimes internal bleeding.
Bright Horizons will reopen once testing is completed, an official for the center said.
All of the parents of children who may have been impacted have been communicated with, they added.
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