Bug passed to wildlife visitors

The centre has remained open to the public

Six children have received hospital treatment after contracting a bug at a wildlife park in Perthshire.

A total of 13 cases of cryptosporidium infection have been confirmed among visitors to Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre near Comrie since 25 March.

Tests are taking place to find out if another 11 also have the infection.

The bug, commonly found in animals, can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps and fever. Only one of the children remains in hospital.

They are understood to have contracted the infection during separate visits.

NHS team

A control team from health authorities in Tayside, Forth Valley and Perth & Kinross has been set up.

Dr Christopher McGuigan, NHS Tayside consultant in public health medicine, said: "Although our inquiries are at an early stage, the evidence gathered to date suggests that some recent visitors to the Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre may have acquired cryptosporidium infection as a result of direct contact with animals or animal faeces.

"As the illness often presents as a tummy upset which frequently passes without the need for any medical intervention, it is very likely that there are people who have become infected who we do not yet know about."

About 500,000 people have visited Auchingarrich in the last 14 years

It is thought that those affected picked up the bug while hand-feeding lambs in a barn.

Anti-bacterial hand cream is available at various points throughout the park, but soap and water is only found next to the centre's restaurant.

Environmental health officers said that hand-washing facilities should be closer to the area where animals are handled.

The park's owners said they would install any additional facilities which were required.

Gillian Carter said: "We adhered to strict regulations and we were aware that the cream that we had at the time before this outbreak was perfectly suitable, but that will have to be looked at now."

Washing facilities

She said it was "most unfortunate" that some of the centre's visitors had picked up the infection.

"We have been open for almost 14 years and have welcomed about 500,000 visitors, and to our knowledge this is the first time this has happened," she said.

"We do have animal and bird handling and advise visitors to wash their hands afterwards. We do have washing facilities and anti-bacterial handwash.

"We have removed the lambs and, as a temporary precaution, the petting area is shut. We are still open to the public."