Investigation Launched As Four People Suffer Illness Problems

Lawyers representing victims of E.coli outbreaks across the globe have revealed their hopes that authorities will gain answers in relation to problems which have seen four people from Wales and Kent affected by the potentially fatal O157 strain of the illness.

Public Health Wales has revealed that two children from the respective areas, as well as two family members of one of the infected youngsters, have tested positive for the illness.

The organisation, which is working with Powys County Council’s Environmental Health team, has confirmed that the two children recently visited Cantref Adventure Farm in Brecon and experts are investigating a possible link between the infection and the farm.

It is reported that direct contact between animals and the public at the farm has been stopped as a precautionary measure.  A spokesman for the farm has confirmed they are undertaking a deep clean of the whole premises and co operating fully with the investigation.
 
News of the problems has come days after the Health Protection Agency revealed that seven confirmed cases of E.coli O157 have been linked to Sutton Park in Birmingham.

Irwin Mitchell’s specialist lawyers act for people who have suffered as a result of outbreaks of E.coli, and other illnesses, in the UK and abroad including those who have gone on to develop long-term problems. They currently represent victims of the Legionnaires’ outbreaks which struck both Stoke-on-Trent and Edinburgh in recent months.

Suki Chhokar, a Partner and expert in illness outbreaks at the national law firm’s Birmingham office, said: “To see two outbreaks of this kind emerge in such a short space of time is clearly a concern which raises urgent questions over safety and the measures in place to prevent the potential spread of such serious illnesses.

“Through our work, we have seen first-hand how victims of the O157 strain of E.coli can be left with significant health problems from which they never fully recover. In some instances, E.coli 0157 has been known to cause kidney failure and therefore the impact the infection can have in some cases cannot be underestimated.

“Because of this, it is absolutely vital that every effort is made to gain answers in relation to these problems and discover what can be done to prevent similar issues from emerging in the future.

”We hope that steps are taken to ensure any possible lessons in relation to both safety and hygiene can be learned from these problems.”