Second child infected with E.coli

The children are recovering from the infection at home

A second child at a nursery in Wishaw has been diagnosed as having a potentially lethal strain of E.coli.

The child attends Craigneuk Nursery and was in close contact with another child who was diagnosed with E.coli O157 on Wednesday, NHS Lanarkshire said.

Both children are recovering at home and the health board said actions have been taken to minimise the risk of exposure to infection.

The council-run nursery is expected to open as usual on Monday morning.

We are working closely with NHS Lanarkshire to inform staff and parents as fully as possible Ray Murphy North Lanarkshire Council

Visits to the centre have been carried out by North Lanarkshire Council, NHS Lanarkshire and the Care Commission.

The nursery cares for 130 children throughout the day.

In 2003 it was criticised for some of its infection control methods in a Care Commission report.

The incubation period for E.coli O157 is usually around one to 14 days and symptoms can include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and fever.

North Lanarkshire Council Education Officer Ray Murphy said: "We are working closely with NHS Lanarkshire to inform staff and parents as fully as possible in relation to this matter.

'Out of date'

"The HMI and Care Commission Report referred to in some of today's media coverage is almost three years out of date.

"The recommendation to 'improve methods for infection control and waste disposal in the baby room' related specifically to the disposal of nappies and accommodation issues that were addressed at that time."

He said the criticism was superseded by two subsequent Care Commission reports following visits in May 2005 and 2006 which identified no hygiene or infection control issues at the centre.

Hand-delivered letters

He said: "Due to summer holidays the centre has been operating with greatly reduced numbers of children.

"We have hand-delivered letters today to families of around 30 children who attended the nursery during the last three weeks.

"We will obviously continue to monitor the situation closely in conjunction with NHS Lanarkshire."

Elsewhere, an eight-year-old boy has suspected E.coli after becoming ill following a holiday abroad.

The Inverness schoolboy is being cared for at home while tests are carried out to establish if he has contracted the potentially lethal O157 strain.