Morning:
8°c
Second children's farm closed over E.coli
Alison Richards17 Sep 2009
A second petting farm has closed after an E.coli outbreak at its sister farm left 14 children ill in hospital.
The closure of Horton Park Children's Farm, in Epsom, Surrey, over hygiene concerns follows that of Godstone Farm, also in Surrey.
The number of cases linked to the Godstone outbreak is now 40, with four children seriously ill in hospital. Seven are stable and three are improving.
The Health Protection Agency said it was not aware of any cases of E.coli O157 linked to Horton but added: “The hygiene arrangements were found to be unsatisfactory and the HPA advised the farm should be closed immediately.”
Meanwhile, A boy of three became the latest victim of the E.coli outbreak only weeks after recovering from swine flu.
Harry Dolby, from Sidcup, developed E.coli on Sunday and is being kept on a drip in an isolation unit in hospital. His condition is said to be deteriorating.
His parents Lee and Louise, both 27, said Harry had just recovered from swine flu and was in hospital for a week this summer after choking on a sausage.
Mr Dolby said: “It's not fair. He has battled so much. He is in a very ill, panicking state.”
It is thought Harry caught E.coli at Godstone Farm, which has closed as a result of the outbreak.
The outbreak is believed to have started on 8 August but it is thought that E.coli's long incubation period meant the Health Protection Agency did not learn about the first possible case connected to the farm until 27 August.
The Conservatives have called for an independent inquiry amid fears that tens of thousands of children could have been exposed to the bug since it was identified.
Fears about the outbreak grew as health chiefs admitted swine flu could affect Britain for the next three or four years. They urged Londoners not to be complacent and to get vaccinated against the disease — especially the young and the elderly. Drug trials are under way and the first vaccine will be ready next month for “at risk” groups.
Dr Simon Tanner, regional director of public health for London, warned that the vaccination, which may have to be given in two doses, would not replace the seasonal flu jab.
He also said it was vital that health workers were immunised as they would be most likely to come into contact with swine flu.
Speaking to the London Assembly's health committee, Dr Tanner said he was relieved the virus had not been as bad as feared. “I'm a lot more relaxed than I was in April but we must not assume this has gone away. These things have an initial peak, followed by a bigger peak. If people think it's gone away and don't go and get their vaccination then there's a chance they will catch it in three or four years.”
He said there were 37 people in hospital with swine flu, eight of whom were critical. In April, there were more than 200 inpatients.
So far 28 people with swine flu in the capital have died and 61 nationally but the number of predicted deaths has fallen from 65,000 to 19,000.
