Published: Thursday, 2nd July, 2009 9:04am

Investigation after West Fife nurseries hit by E. coli scare

by Siew Peng Lee

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TWO West Fife nursery tots are at the centre of an NHS Fife investigation into E. coli.

The children, from two separate nurseries, are being investigated for the E. coli O157 strain, although in both cases it is not thought that the infections came from the nurseries.

The health board said it would not provide details of the nurseries concerned at this time and would not comment on the individual cases at the request of the children"s parents.

Letters and leaflets have been sent to parents and guardians at both nurseries as a precautionary measure within the last week.

An NHS Fife spokesperson said, 'Investigations by NHS Fife"s public health department continue, in partnership with our colleagues in environmental health.

'No clear cause has been identified but it is not thought that the infections came from the nurseries. There is no evidence to suggest that the nurseries should be closed.'

There have been nine cases of E. coli O157 in Fife this year, six in children and three in adults, with most of the cases arising in the last few months. There were 10 cases in Fife at this time last year.

Dr Jackie Hyland, NHS Fife consultant in public health medicine, added, 'E. coli O157 can spread easily.

'By taking some simple precautions, people can help reduce the risk of catching the infection.

'Careful hand-washing, especially before eating, after using the toilet and before and after handling food, is one of the most effective methods where people can avoid the infection.

'Children under five years of age should be supervised in their hand-washing.'

An E. coli O157 outbreak in 2006 at Dunfermline"s Careshare at Lauder nursery saw a total of 13 individuals confirmed as cases. Five children were hospitalised. And in Scotland"s worst E. coli outbreak, which occurred in 1996, 21 people, most of them elderly, died after eating contaminated meat from Wishaw butcher John M Barr & Son.

E. coli is a germ which is a normal inhabitant of the intestine and is present in every healthy person"s gut. However, certain types, such as the E. coli O157 strain, are unhealthy and can cause sickness, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhoea and fever.

Symptoms may only last a few days and may not all be present. Infection tends to occur more often in summer months, when children visit farms and play outdoors.

Infection occurs by swallowing the E. coli germ when eating or drinking contaminated food or drink, such as unpasteurised milk, raw meat or untreated/unchlorinated water. Infection is possible when there is a transfer of animal faeces to the mouth.

It is possible to catch E. coli from someone with the infection. NHS Fife said anyone with symptoms should seek medical advice and stay off work or school until they feel better.