By Bruno Matarazzo Jr.
Staff writer
April 01, 2008 06:00 am MIDDLETON — A spokesman for CoCo Key Water Resort denies a Danvers mother's claim that her 10-year-old daughter developed a minor form of a staph infection from one of their pools. Still, the water park, which is part of the Sheraton Ferncroft in Danvers, shut down yesterday after a monthly water quality test revealed a higher measurement of nonspecific bacteria. The company spokesman said a test found a high level of heterotrophic platelet count, known as HPC, which is an "analytic method used to measure the variety of bacteria that are common in water," according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "We had tests done on the water. HPC has nothing to do with what this lady is talking about," said Ron Sevart, vice president of brand management at Sage Hospitality, the company that owns CoCo Key. "It's unfortunate her daughter does have this. It's common in children. It's also called school sores. It's passed person-to-person." The Salem News contacted CoCo Key after receiving a Web-based news tip yesterday purported to be from a Sheraton Ferncroft official. The tip said the water park shut down following a report of a staph infection. Sevart, however, called the communication a "hoax" and said the employee did not type the e-mail. The newspaper's Web site, SalemNews.com, provides a way for readers to submit news tips and other information directly via the Internet. The Web submission form asks for the reader to provide his or her name and e-mail address. The Salem News then verifies the personal information, and the content of the message, before attributing any news tip or quote to a source. The Danvers mother, Toni Lyn Kucker, said her daughter developed the skin infection known as impetigo following a Good Friday visit to the water park for a birthday party. Kucker said many of the partygoers developed a rash, but their rashes went away. Her daughter's did not, she said. "She is very light-skinned, and I said, 'Why did all her friends' (rashes) go away and not her,'" Kucker said. The girl's pediatrician diagnosed the rash late last week as impetigo, a minor form of staph, Kucker said. Kucker contacted the Middleton Board of Health on Friday and heard back from a staff member yesterday. She said the health department employee was waiting for the bacteria readings from the water resort. Kucker said her daughter still has a rash on her face, behind her ears, and on her legs, hands and underarms. She is being treated with antibiotics and antihistamine. It is not known whether Sevart was referring to Kucker's claim about her daughter or if the person providing the news tip was referring to another report of a staph infection. Middleton Public Health Director Derek Fullerton refused to comment when reached at his home last night, asking a reporter to call him in his office today instead. Sevart claims the decision to shut down the water resort yesterday was the hotel's and not prompted by the town health department or the state. "Our chlorine levels have been over the state minimum level of 1.0 parts per million, and that level is above the level needed to kill any bacteria in the water," Sevart said. However, to address the high-reading HPC, Sevart said the hotel closed the doors to rechlorinate the water and add fresh water. The chlorine levels at CoCo Key made news in February after testing showed excessive levels of chlorine byproducts and health officials heard a number of reports of children and at least one adult suffering chemical burns. The Middleton Board of Health closed the facility for more than a week last month, reopening March 14. Users of the pool said they were burned or suffered asthma attacks throughout late February and early March, and a local school nurse reportedly saw rashes several weeks ago on 15 children who had been to the resort. The Board of Health said the three pools and hot tub have to meet state standards for chlorine levels, while workers must keep accurate logbooks and buy accurate testing equipment. Sevart said he expects CoCo Key to reopen today. Staff writers Ethan Forman and Mike Stucka contributed to this report.
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