Probe continues into E.coli toddler

Published on Tuesday 5 February 2008 09:08

INVESTIGATIONS were continuing today after a child at a city nursery was found to have E.coli.

A boy at the Newhaven Nursery, in Newhaven Place, was diagnosed with the 0157 strain of the potentially fatal disease.

NHS Lothian's public health team and the city council's environmental health officers have been informed and are investigating.

Nursery bosses said the premises had been thoroughly disinfected after the youngster became infected through an "external source".

Owners Careshare said the incident was dealt with quickly, and confirmed that there are no plans to close the nursery.

A spokesman for Careshare Nurseries said: "This is an isolated case and the public health department has confirmed that the nursery was not the source of the infection.

"As soon as we were made aware of it we instigated stringent procedures, which included the use of powerful cleaning agents.

"The authorities have checked our actions and has confirmed that the nursery is operating in a safe, clean environment."

Neither Careshare nor NHS Lothian were able to divulge the identity or the condition of the boy at the centre of the infection scare.

Dr Lorna Willocks, consultant in public health medicine with NHS Lothian, said: "Our public health team and the City of Edinburgh Council's environmental health officers are currently investigating an individual case of E.coli 0157.

"This investigation includes a nursery in Edinburgh, although we would stress that the nursery concerned is not the original source of infection."

Dr Willocks added: "At the moment there are no indications to suggest that the infection has been passed to anyone else who attends the nursery. However, all necessary precautions are being taken.

"Parents who have concerns about a child's health should contact either their GP or NHS 24."

One parent at the Newhaven Nursery, who did not wish to be named, said that they were only informed of the situation through word of mouth.

He said: "We were told he got the infection from his grandparents. We're obviously very concerned and would like the matter fully investigated."

E.coli 0157, which is found in faeces, is most commonly found in the intestines of cattle. Humans can become infected by eating contaminated foods, inadequately cooked meat and dairy products, direct contact with animals and by person-to-person spread.

The health board has advised all parents to take extra care with disinfection practices such as hand washing, especially before preparing food, after going to the toilet, or after contact with animals.

Sir Hugh Pennington, Scotland's leading expert on the disease, said: "The majority of E.coli cases are just single cases, but it can spread from person to person.

"In nurseries there are young children who are not potty trained and still learning to wash their hands.

"I don't think parents should be particularly concerned, as there has been a lot of information going out to nurseries on how to prevent such outbreaks."