Authorities Working Together To Investigate Illness Outbreak

Illness lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have welcomed steps taken by East Devon District Council to tackle a suspected norovirus outbreak in the area, but also urged that lessons can be learned from the problems.

Environmental health officers from the local authority are working with the Environment Agency in relation to the concerns that children playing in the River Otter at Lime Kiln have suffered from severe vomiting after becoming infected with the illness.

Work is now being undertaken to consider if there is a specific source which may have caused the norovirus, while the general public are also being urged not to bathe or paddle in the water.

Irwin Mitchell’s team of illness specialists have vast expertise acting for people who have suffered serious health problems as a result of outbreaks in the UK and abroad, helping them to seek justice over the ordeals they have faced. They also notably represent victims of major Legionnaires’ outbreaks which have struck Edinburgh and Stoke-on-Trent in recent months.

Suki Chhokar, a Partner and expert in illness claims at the national law firm, said: “We have seen numerous cases when norovirus and its symptoms can have a massive impact on people of all ages, often leaving them with health issues from which they never fully recover.

“It is hugely worrying that young victims have been affected by this suspected outbreak and the parents of those involved will undoubtedly be seeking answers over how they came infected and reassurances this won’t be repeated in the future.

“Preventing further cases should be the core focus at present, but the next steps will be reviewing the incident with a view to ensuring lessons can be learned and general public safety improved.”