Children must go without a playground for the coming period after suspected caterpillar hairs
Four children and eight staff members have been plagued by rashes and itching after returning to Ørbækparken Børnehus last week.
This is what it looked like when Ørbækparken Børnehus in Odense was temporarily closed on June 30, after several children had experienced itching and rashes. It is suspected that the symptoms stem from the toxic caterpillar, the oak processionary moth. (Photo: © Emma Elisabeth Hansen, DR) 58 minutes ago
Reports of itching and rashes from children and staff led Odense Municipality earlier today to keep the children indoors at Ørbækparken Børnehus in Odense, which had previously been shut down due to findings of the 'Caterpillar from Hell'.
And this will continue for some time.
Odense Municipality's Climate and Environment Department and Children and Youth Department inform DR News that no caterpillars or nests have been found after an inspection earlier today examined the conditions. The municipality suspects that contact with the caterpillars' hairs occurs when they are outdoors.
Therefore, the children will not be able to enjoy the daycare's playground in the coming period.
- We are primarily keeping our nursery children indoors, and the kindergarten children can go on trips a bit further away from the local area, so they also have the opportunity to get outside, now that the weather is also good, says Malene Mortensen, development manager in the municipality's children and youth department, to DR News.
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Twelve people affected
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The municipality states that they are aware that eight out of 14 staff members and four out of 49 children have been plagued by itching and rashes since the daycare reopened last week. But even though several people have been affected by the caterpillar hairs, Malene Mortensen does not believe that Ørbækparken Børnehus was reopened too quickly.
- Because we reopened it with extra cleaning and supervision. And with what we know about the caterpillar, it is here to stay.
- We are taking the precautions in Odense Municipality that we can at this point, so we have reopened the daycare because we think it is responsible – and we still think it is, says Malene Mortensen.
The Climate and Environment Department is currently investigating what can be done if there are hairs on the playground that are causing problems. They are gathering some international experiences.
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