Officials: South Carolina Day Care Linked to 8 E. Coli Cases, One Child Death

South Carolina health officials say an eighth case of E. coli has been traced to a daycare center that’s now temporarily closed.

Officials announced the eighth case Monday night. They say at least one child appears to have died from a disease caused by the bacteria.

Owners of the Learning Vine in Greenwood said Monday that it was thoroughly cleaning the center after the outbreak and that they closed it as soon as they got the first indication E. coli might have sickened some children and employees.

The operator says investigators haven’t determined how the bacteria got into the center.

State health officials say at least four of the eight cases are the same strain of E. coli. DHEC says it’s still collecting and testing samples from the center.