31 May 2012
The number of confirmed cases of E.coli in an outbreak connected to a nursery has risen to seven.
NHS Grampian said three adults and four children were now affected and there were a further four suspected cases, who are all children.
The outbreak centres on the Rose Lodge Nursery School in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, where the first suspected case emerged last Sunday.
NHS Grampian’s health protection team is investigating the source of the outbreak.
Staff and parents and carers of all children who attend the nursery have been contacted.
E.coli O157 bacteria are commonly carried in the gut of various farm animals and can be found in their faeces. Untreated water supplies can also contain the bacteria.
Symptoms of infection are diarrhoea which is sometimes bloody, abdominal cramps, loss of appetite and, more rarely, vomiting.
It is easily spread in households, although careful handwashing can help prevent this.
The health board is advising parents to contact their GP or NHS24 if they are concerned about the health of their children, as well as to maintain a good standard of hand hygiene.
Copyright Press Association 2012