Independent investigation ordered into E.coli outbreak
Independent investigation ordered into E.coli outbreak
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Wednesday, 16, Sep 2009 11:33
By Richard James.
Health officials have admitted the farm at the centre of an E.coli outbreak may have been left open too long.
Thirteen children have so far been hospitalised after visiting Godstone farm, near Redhill in Surrey, with 37 total cases now confirmed.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has now apologised to the families of the victims and admitted mistakes were made in keeping the farm open after learning of the outbreak.
A full external investigation has also now been announced.
The farm was closed during the weekend following the outbreak, but it has since emerged the first case of E.coli was reported back in August.
HPA's chief executive, Justin McCracken, said: "If this information had been taken into account on August 27th, then the advice given and the steps taken on September 3rd would have been introduced earlier and the farm might have been closed earlier.
"I wanted to speak personally to the parents of those children who are most seriously ill in hospital to explain what has happened and, however inadequate under the circumstances, to apologise.
"The position they find themselves in is unbearable and it is of course worse that what has happened might have been avoidable."
Amongst those currently receiving treatment in hospital are believed to be two-year-old twins and a toddler.