E coli strikes two children

TWO children have contracted E coli in the Borders area, it emerged yesterday.

NHS Borders said the two youngsters were recovering at home after contracting E coli O157 – the most serious and potentially fatal form of the bug.

Both the children knew each other and went to the same childcare centre, which has now closed voluntarily while the source of the illness is investigated.

NHS Borders sees around ten cases of E coli O157 each year.

Dr Alan Mordue, consultant in public health medicine at NHS Borders, said: "These two children with E.coli O157 have social contact with each other and also both attended a childcare facility in the last week.

"Fortunately both children are doing well, are at home and under the care of their GP."

All children and staff who have been at the childcare centre in the last two weeks are being tested for E coli as a precaution.

"Many of these results are now available and I am pleased to say that all are negative for E coli O157 so far," Dr Mordue said.

Symptoms of Ecoli O157 include diarrhoea, severe stomach pain, feeling sick and vomiting and headache.