Media Release
PR383
E-coli Update -18.00 hours, Tues 4 October 2005
Update by the Outbreak Control Team (Officers of the Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly and Bridgend Local Authorities, the Rhondda Cynon Taf Local Health Board, the Food Standards Agency and the National Public Health Service of Wales)
New cases
At 10.00 hours today, 157 cases compatible with E coli O157 infection have been identified.
Unfortunately, a five year old boy died in the early hours of this morning and our thoughts are very much with his family at this difficult time.
The situation remains dynamic. There continue to be new cases. However, some cases – originally suspected of E coli O157 – have not been confirmed and, therefore, have been taken off the total.
Of the 157, 37 people have been admitted to hospital. Ten of these have been transferred to Alderhey and Bristol Hospitals for more specialist treatment. One of these – a five year old boy – has died. Of the remaining 27, 25 have been discharged.
There are a total of 42 schools where exposure to the source has apparently resulted in infection. The Outbreak Control Team is confident that cases in the schools caught the infection before control measures were put in place.
Investigation
The National Public Health Service for Wales Laboratory in Cardiff has isolated E coli O157 from three samples of sliced cooked meat obtained by Environmental Health staff.
Two of these three samples have undergone DNA ‘finger-printing’ at the Health Protection Agency’s E coli Reference Laboratory at the Centre for Infections in London. This has shown that the strains in the food samples are indistinguishable from those found in people with the infection.
DNA ‘finger printing’ work is continuing on the third strain.
Extensive microbiological and epidemiological investigations are continuing to monitor the course of the outbreak and further define its nature.
Control measures
Control measures remain in place.
The Outbreak Control Team is confident that the control measures put in place in the schools have meant that there no one has caught the infection from another person in a school.
The decision to keep schools open has been reviewed on a regular basis. The Team continues to be of the opinion that it is safe for schools to remain open and for children to attend school as normal.
Most new cases are now secondary – where someone has caught the infection from someone else – usually a member of the same family. Thorough hand washing before eating or preparing food and after using the toilet; and daily disinfectant of toilets are important ways of stopping the spread of infection.
Communications
People with concerns regarding their health are advised to contact their GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
The Outbreak Control Team consists of the following organisations:
- Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
- Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
- Bridgend County Borough Council
- Caerphilly County Borough Council
- National Public Health Service for Wales
- Rhondda Cynon Taf Local Health Board
- Food Standards Agency
Schools where exposure to the source has apparently resulted in infection
Rhondda Cynon Taf
1. Abertaf Primary School
2. Blaengwawr Primary School
3. Pengeulan Primary School
4. Cwmdare Primary School
5. Rhigos Primary School
6. Glenboi Primary School
7. Cwmbach Infants School
8. St John the Baptist Secondary School
9. Penygraig Infants School
10. Maesycoed Primary School
11. Cynon Infants School
12. Caradog Primary School
13. Aberdare Town Church School
14. Capcoch Primary School
15. Comin Junior School
16. YGG Lwyncelyn
17. Cwmlai Primary School
18. Penyrenglyn Community Primary School
19. Hirwaun Primary School
20. Parc Lewis Primary School
21. Treorchy Comprehensive School
22. Glantaf Infants School
23. Ynyswen Infants
24. Hawthorn Primary School
25. Ysgol Yr Eos, Penygraig
26. YGG Abercynon
27. Mountain Ash Comprehensive School
28. Ton Pentre Infants School
Merthyr Tyfil
29. Bedlinog Primary School
30. Troed y Rhiw Infants School
31. Pen y Dre Secondary School
32. Gellifaelog School
Caerphilly
33. Upper Rhymney Primary School
34. Ysgol Yr Castell
35. Cwrt Rawlin Prmary School
36. Rhydri Primary School
37. Hendre Infants School
38. Deri Primary School
39. Greenhill Primary School, Gelligaer
40. Ysgol Gymreig, Trelin, Pengam
Bridgend
41. Archbishop McGrath Secondary School
42. Ynysawdre Comprehensive School
Notes
1. Deri Primary School was identified, on Sunday 25th September, as a school where exposure to the source has apparently resulted in infection. Full control measures – enhanced cleaning, prevention of play with water, sand and plasticine and a letter to parents with advice on hand washing – were already in place by this time. These were in addition to the action already taken to withdraw pre-cooked meat.
Despite the necessary clinical and direct communication work being undertaken, an administrative mistake led to the school not being added to the list of schools issued to the media. However, the school was included in information distributed to Caerphilly County Borough Schools by the local authority.
2. Brynna Primary School has been removed from the list because the pupil who attended the school has been confirmed not to have the e coli infection
ENDS
For further information, please contact Chris Lines on 07866 634077 or
Stephanie McNicholas on 01443 494702