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| Officials knew of E.coli outbreak | Officials knew of E.coli outbreak |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Health officials knew about an E.coli outbreak among people who visited a farm in Surrey days before it was closed to the public, it has emerged. | Health officials knew about an E.coli outbreak among people who visited a farm in Surrey days before it was closed to the public, it has emerged. |
| Twelve children are in hospital - four seriously ill - after contracting the bug at a children's farm. | Twelve children are in hospital - four seriously ill - after contracting the bug at a children's farm. |
| The Health Protection Authority became aware of the outbreak in late August after cases were traced to the farm. | The Health Protection Authority became aware of the outbreak in late August after cases were traced to the farm. |
| Once a pattern was established as the number of infected children rose, moves were made to shut Godstone Farm down. | Once a pattern was established as the number of infected children rose, moves were made to shut Godstone Farm down. |
| All the sick children are aged under 10. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) says 36 cases have been reported so far. | All the sick children are aged under 10. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) says 36 cases have been reported so far. |
| Kidney failure | Kidney failure |
| The outbreak is believed to have started on 8 August. The bacteria causes diarrhoea and can lead to kidney failure, especially in young children. It is fatal in very rare cases. | The outbreak is believed to have started on 8 August. The bacteria causes diarrhoea and can lead to kidney failure, especially in young children. It is fatal in very rare cases. |
| The HPA is investigating the outbreak and spokesman Dr Graham Bickler says it is one of the largest seen in the UK. | The HPA is investigating the outbreak and spokesman Dr Graham Bickler says it is one of the largest seen in the UK. |
| He said: "The farm is shut so we're confident there's no more transmission going on at the farm." | He said: "The farm is shut so we're confident there's no more transmission going on at the farm." |
| E.COLI Bacterium is found in the intestines of animals and humans950 recorded cases in England and Wales last year20 people died in the worst recorded UK outbreak, linked to a church lunch in Strathclyde 13 years ago | E.COLI Bacterium is found in the intestines of animals and humans950 recorded cases in England and Wales last year20 people died in the worst recorded UK outbreak, linked to a church lunch in Strathclyde 13 years ago |
| He added it would take "a few weeks" to find the source of the infection. | He added it would take "a few weeks" to find the source of the infection. |
| "The actions over the next few weeks will be to investigate it by talking to people who've been ill or their parents to find out what they've been doing, by taking samples from them and from the environment. | "The actions over the next few weeks will be to investigate it by talking to people who've been ill or their parents to find out what they've been doing, by taking samples from them and from the environment. |
| "So it will take a few weeks till we fully understand it and we don't know at the moment." | "So it will take a few weeks till we fully understand it and we don't know at the moment." |
| The director of the Surrey and Sussex Health Protection Unit, Dr Angela Iversen, said the farm would remain closed for the time being. | The director of the Surrey and Sussex Health Protection Unit, Dr Angela Iversen, said the farm would remain closed for the time being. |
| 'Very large outbreak' | 'Very large outbreak' |
| She said: "The farm owners are co-operating fully and we are working closely with them to investigate the source. | She said: "The farm owners are co-operating fully and we are working closely with them to investigate the source. |
| "Our advice is that the farm should remain closed to visitors while this work goes on." | "Our advice is that the farm should remain closed to visitors while this work goes on." |
| Professor Hugh Pennington has led inquiries into E.coli outbreaks in central Scotland and south Wales. He described the latest one as a "very large" outbreak. | Professor Hugh Pennington has led inquiries into E.coli outbreaks in central Scotland and south Wales. He described the latest one as a "very large" outbreak. |
| He said: "This is more likely to be an environmental source and we've seen outbreaks on farms of this kind where there are lots of young kids visiting, perhaps patting the animals or maybe just touching surfaces where there's manure." | He said: "This is more likely to be an environmental source and we've seen outbreaks on farms of this kind where there are lots of young kids visiting, perhaps patting the animals or maybe just touching surfaces where there's manure." |
| "But this is a very large outbreak for that kind of setting," he said. | "But this is a very large outbreak for that kind of setting," he said. |
| "Most people get better without any particular treatment. But unfortunately some people, some kids, do lose their kidneys permanently so this is a very, very serious infection." | "Most people get better without any particular treatment. But unfortunately some people, some kids, do lose their kidneys permanently so this is a very, very serious infection." |
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