Shigellosis increasing in Va.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. - At Children's Harbor daycare in Norfolk teachers have two big rules: love the kids, kill the germs.

"We try to nip it in every way it can come at us," said Senior Director Annie Walker.

Right now the Virginia Department of Health says the teachers, tots and the rest of the community need to watch out for Shigellosis. It's an infection that causes mild to severe diarrhea, often with traces of mucus or blood in the stool, lasts five to seven days and and is very contagious.

"The best thing you can do is wash your hands and reinforce handwashing with children."

Chesapeake Epidemiologist Lisa Engle says like most illnesses, Shigellosis is passed when people either don't wash their hands after using the bathroom or don't wash them the right way.

"When you went to the bathroom and you washed your hands you contaminated that faucet right? So you really need to use a paper towel to turn it off."

It's a hard lesson to learn. That's why Engle says you need to watch kids and start good habits early.

If you change a diaper, wash baby's hands when you're done, along with your own. It may seem like overkill, but Annie Walker says 30 years in the daycare business has taught her it works.