18/09/2009 - E.coli outbreak toll reaches 45
A total of 45 people are now said to have contracted E.coli in an outbreak linked to a children's farm in Surrey.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said five new cases associated with Godstone Farm have been announced. Its sister farm, Horton Park Children's Farm in Epsom, is also closed due to "unsatisfactory" hygiene arrangements.
Doctors are treating four seriously ill children in hospital as a result of the outbreak, while six youngsters remain in a stable condition and two were described as "improving" by the HPA.
None of the cases of E.coli O157 have been linked to Horton Park Children's Farm, according to an HPA spokeswoman. She added: "The hygiene arrangements were found to be unsatisfactory and the HPA advised the local authority that the farm should be closed immediately while these defects were rectified."
A spokeswoman for Horton Park Children's Farm said the decision to close the site was made because of the perceived "slight risk" of more children contracting E.coli.
"I must impress that Horton Park Farm has no suspected or actual cases of E.coli and that this is a preventative measure taken by us to safeguard all our friends and customers," she said.
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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