Amador County – The death Monday of a 5-year-old boy has been found to have not been caused by a communicable disease.

Amador County Public Health released information Tuesday saying a “preliminary investigation into the death of a 5-year-old child does not reveal communicable disease.”

Amador County Public Health Officer Dr. Bob Hartmann said: “Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the child’s family and caregivers.” He said: “Our investigation reveals that there is no need for preventive antibiotics for contacts.”

Hartmann said “as a precaution, a childcare facility was temporarily closed pending the outcome of the preliminary investigation. The childcare site has been allowed to reopen.”

He said the “Amador County Sheriff’s Office collaborated closely with Dr. Hartmann and the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office in the investigation of this death.”

Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner said late Tuesday that the Sheriff’s Department would release more details today. He said Public Health did not consult the Sheriff’s Office before releasing information, and the Sheriff & Coroner’s Office “is required by law to conduct an inquiry to determine the cause and manner of death,” not Public Health.

He said in this case, Hartmann “was merely consulted as we are required to report deaths possibly involving communicable disease to him and at the time that was in fact a consideration.”

Wegner said contrary to a newspaper report, “the autopsy that was conducted was not a ‘preliminary autopsy’.”

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.