Nursery pupils hit by E coli outbreak

Michael Durham,Health Correspondent
Thursday 21 June 2001 19:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Four children were in hospital last night after two separate E coli outbreaks in Suffolk that affected 14 people.

Seven children and an adult from a nursery at West Suffolk College in Bury St Edmunds were taken to hospital earlier this week with E coli 0157. One has been transferred to a London hospital and two are in a local hospital.

In a separate incident, two children are believed to have been infected with the bug on a holiday in Tunisia. One is still in hospital in London.

The source of the infection at the nursery has not been located, but health officials yesterday said the first case was on 5 June. The nursery has been closed and disinfected.

Earlier this week, 15 girl guides on a camping trip in Scotland were infected with the bug. The girls, aged from nine to 13, and two adult leaders were infected at Bettyburn campsite, Inverkip. Infected tap water was located as the source.

An ex-nurse, Aileen Bruce, 57, from Perthshire, died on Tuesday after eating an E coli-infected sandwich. She died of kidney failure in hospital in Dundee.

In West Belfast, a nursery is to close for the summer after an outbreak of E coli 0157 which affected two teachers and a pupil at a nearby primary school.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in