RALEIGH — The Wake County Health Department is requiring that all children at a Raleigh day care be checked for

Shigellosis

after several children there tested positive for the infection.

Eight out of 12 children in one class at the Kindercare facility on Millbrook Road tested positive for the contagious bacterial infection.

Shigellosis is an infection of the digestive tract which is usually spread spread through contact with human waste.

The Centers for Disease Control says the infection is particularly likely to occur among toddlers who are not fully toilet-trained. Family members and playmates of such children are at high risk of becoming infected, according to the CDC.

"I don't believe there was true negligence in this case. I just believe we have a situation where children weren't supervised as much as they should have been, and what we have are children who are infected," said Wake County Health Director Gibbie Harris.

The Health Department is working with the staff to improve hygiene and other health care practices.

A Kindercare spokesperson says that the health and safety of the workers and children are a top priority.