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| Farm defends response to E.coli | Farm defends response to E.coli |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The managers of a children's farm in Surrey linked to a string of E.coli cases have defended their response to the outbreak. | The managers of a children's farm in Surrey linked to a string of E.coli cases have defended their response to the outbreak. |
| Twelve children are in hospital - four seriously ill - after contracting the bug at Godstone Farm near Redhill. | Twelve children are in hospital - four seriously ill - after contracting the bug at Godstone Farm near Redhill. |
| The farm has been closed while the Health Protection Agency carries out an investigation. | The farm has been closed while the Health Protection Agency carries out an investigation. |
| Farm manager Richard Oatway said the farm had acted responsibly and was co-operating with the investigation. | Farm manager Richard Oatway said the farm had acted responsibly and was co-operating with the investigation. |
| He said: "All the staff at the farm are very upset about the E.coli outbreak and we hope that all the children make a full and speedy recovery." | He said: "All the staff at the farm are very upset about the E.coli outbreak and we hope that all the children make a full and speedy recovery." |
| Safety 'priority' | Safety 'priority' |
| He added: "We have taken the decision to close the farm until the authorities have finished their investigations. These have been very thorough and are still ongoing. | |
| "We will not reopen the farm until we are satisfied that we have got to the root of the problem and have put in place suitable control measures. | |
| "Our main priority has always been to make sure the farm is safe for everyone who comes here to visit. | |
| "We have co-operated fully with all the authorities from the very beginning and will of course continue to do so." | "We have co-operated fully with all the authorities from the very beginning and will of course continue to do so." |
| It has emerged health officials knew about the outbreak among people who visited the farm days before it was closed to the public. | It has emerged health officials knew about the outbreak among people who visited the farm days before it was closed to the public. |
| The Health Protection Agency became aware of the outbreak in late August after cases were traced to the farm. | The Health Protection Agency became aware of the outbreak in late August after cases were traced to the farm. |
| The farm, which is a popular destination for families, was closed when a pattern was established as the number of infected children rose. | The farm, which is a popular destination for families, was closed when a pattern was established as the number of infected children rose. |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| HPA spokesman Dr Graham Bickler said it was one of the largest outbreaks seen in the UK. | HPA spokesman Dr Graham Bickler said it was one of the largest outbreaks 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." |
| 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. |
| 'Serious infection' | 'Serious infection' |
| "So it will take a few weeks until we fully understand it and we don't know at the moment." | "So it will take a few weeks until 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. |
| Professor Hugh Pennington, who has led inquiries into E.coli outbreaks in central Scotland and south Wales, described the latest one as a "very large" outbreak. | Professor Hugh Pennington, who has led inquiries into E.coli outbreaks in central Scotland and south Wales, described the latest one as a "very large" outbreak. |
| 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." | 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." |
| Have you been affected by this E.coli outbreak? Do you know someone who has recently contracted E.coli? Tell us your experiences using the form below. | Have you been affected by this E.coli outbreak? Do you know someone who has recently contracted E.coli? Tell us your experiences using the form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |