Nursery children in the clear

22 September 2009

Sixteen children from Brooklands Nursery, Rose Hill, Bryn, Wigan who were tested for E.coli O157 as a routine precautionary measure have been given the all clear.

All tests results were negative. Results are still awaited on a small number of children and these should be available later this week.

Samples from the children were taken for testing after a child who had attended the nursery was confirmed to have E.coli O157 infection. That child is recovering at home from mild symptoms of the infection and is otherwise well.

Testing of the nursery children was authorised by an infection control group comprising representatives of the Health Protection Agency, Environmental Health Officers from Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council and public health specialists from NHS Ashton, Leigh and Wigan.   

Dr. Lorraine Lighton, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control with the HPA's Greater Manchester Health Protection Unit, said: "It was routine infection control practice to test the children and fortunately all results to date are negative. We have found no evidence of person-to-person spread within the nursery and there is no reason as to why the nursery should not continue to operate as normal. We are grateful to the nursery management and staff for their support and co-operation they gave us."

Note to Editors:

E. coli O157 is a bacterium that can cause an infection of the bowel. It is spread from contact with animals or infected meat products and it can also spread from person-to-person.

The incubation period is usually 1 to 6 days, with an average of 2 days.  Symptoms will include diarrhoea which is usually mild and settles within 2 weeks.  However, a few people may have a more serious illness with bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain, raised temperature and shivering attacks.

The medical advice is to drink plenty of fluids, particularly if there is diarrhoea and to rest. Antibiotics should not be given for this illness. If diarrhoea persists, or if blood or slime is present, patients should contact their GP.

Spread of the disease can be prevented by hand washing by everyone in the household. Hands must be washed after using the toilet, before handling food, after handling raw food and before eating. Young children should be supervised when washing hands, or have their hands washed for them.

Press release issued by Hugh Lamont, Communications Manager, HPA North West. Tel 0151-482-5728 or 07764-906508.

 

Last reviewed: 23 September 2009