Young at E.coli scare nursery test negative

Children at a Mid Wales nursery which saw two youngsters struck down with E.coli have so far tested negative for the bug.

The Park Lane Nursery closed its doors on Thursday evening after the pair went down with the bug.

Dr Mac Walapu, consultant in communicable disease control at National Public Health Service for Wales, said today that a second set of results were due back tomorrow on tests involving 51 of the children from the nursery.

He said: “All 51 children tested for E.coli O157 at a Welshpool nursery school have received negative results.

“Every child will need to receive negative results on two samples submitted at least 48 hours apart before they can return to nursery, and we expect the second set of results mid-week.

“All children attending the nursery have been screened apart from four currently on holidays, who will be tested on their return.

“People can become infected with E.coli O157 by eating contaminated food, through contact with farm animals or through contact with contaminated water.

“The infection can also pass from person to person.

“Symptoms of E.coli range from mild diarrhoea, stomach cramps and fever to bloody diarrhoea. The incubation period can range from one to 14 days, but is usually three to four days.”

The two children infected have now recovered and the nursery is expected to open its doors again by the end of the week.