Children return to E.coli nursery

The nursery has now been given the all-clear by health officials

The nursery at the centre of an E.coli O157 outbreak in Fife has re-opened.

Five children at the Careshare Lauder Nursery in Dunfermline were treated for kidney failure after becoming infected with a rare strain of the bug.

The privately-run facility has been closed for nearly five weeks while an investigation was carried out.

Teams of cleaners were brought in to eradicate any trace of the infection. The nursery has now been given the all-clear for children to return.

The outbreak affected 14 children and adults. The five toddlers who were seriously ill in hospital with haemolytic uraemic syndrome have all now returned home.

The nursery has been cleaned and independently verified as clean and is safe Graham Robb Careshare Nurseries spokesman

The nursery at Lauder College looks after about 100 children.

Spokesman for the Careshare Nursery Graham Robb told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "The only real conclusion that we know of now is that the outbreak did not occur at our nursery.

"We also know beyond doubt that the nursery has been cleaned and independently verified as clean and is safe to operate."

Mr Robb said procedures had been reviewed and refresher hygiene training was given to staff.

Health Protection Scotland said the rare strain of infection had made it harder to identify.

E.coli O157 is most commonly found in the intestines of cattle.

Humans can become infected by eating contaminated foods, inadequately cooked meat and dairy products, direct contact with animals and by person-to-person spread.