Concern over E.coli outbreak rise

John Tudor and Son said it had no previous hygiene problems E.coli relatives' schools anger

A health official says the rise in E.coli cases in schools across south Wales is "dramatic and discouraging".

With 75 cases in 27 schools, Dr Roland Salmon of the National Public Health Service has said he hoped safety measures will soon have an impact.

Merthyr MP Dai Havard has called for a Welsh Assembly Government inquiry.

A meat supplier linked to the outbreak, John Tudor and Son of Bridgend, has been ordered to stop trading amid a Food Standards Agency investigation.

Councils were told to remove the firm's cooked meats from the food chain.

Caitlin Bray, three, of Rhondda, is receiving hospital treatment

The first cases emerged a week ago, and Bridgend Council said the company was visited on Monday, when an emergency notice was issued preventing it preparing or selling any food.

The council said: "Investigations are continuing, but it must be stressed that at this stage there is no conclusive evidence that the establishment in question was the source of the infection."

The company said it had been operating for 48 years with no previous hygiene problems.

E.COLI OUTBREAK Sunday: Seven linked cases confirmed by Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr councils Monday: Cases rise to 23. Officials warn of further rise Tuesday: Cases rises to 41 in 19 schools. School canteens ruled out as source Wednesday: Tally rises to 56 in 25 schools. Outbreak linked with Bridgend food supplier John Tudor and Son Thursday: Cases rise by 10 to 68. Health officials move to quell any public fears

Dr Salmon told BBC Radio Wales: "The rise has been dramatic and this is discouraging and I know worrying.

"All I would say is that I know much of that represents exposures to infection that took place before the outbreak had been recognised and before control measures were put in place.

"So most of these people probably got their infection last week. We are hopeful that before too much longer we should start to see some effect from them."

SCHOOLS AFFECTED Primary: Abertaf; Blaengwawr; Bedlinog; Pengeulan; Capcoch; Caradog; Upper Rhymney; Comin; YGG Llwyncelyn; Cwmdare; Aberdare Town Church School; Troedyrhiw; Rhigos; Glenboi; Maesycoed; Cwmlai; Hirwaun; Parc Lewis, Ysgol yr Castell Infants: Cwmbach; Penygraig; Cynon Secondary: Pen y Dre; St John the Baptist; Archbishop McGrath; Ysgol Pen Yr Englyn, Treorchy

Dr Salmon said inquiries had begun with both ill and well people, then moved into looking at the food chain, and now laboratories were examining specimens from food supplied to schools.

He defended the speed of the investigation.

"I think that we'd have found it difficult to act quicker than we did," he said.

"We knew about it on Friday lunchtime and we started the investigation that afternoon and we'd made substantial progress by Monday morning."

Merthyr and Rhymney MP Mr Havard said that as well as an inquiry into the current outbreak, a longer term investigation was needed to ensure that companies are monitored to ensure they comply with food hygiene standards.

"Let's get these kids well. Let's have standards in the schools which mean these kids don't get ill," the MP told BBC Radio Wales.

"These are captured communities - whether it's people in care homes, people in schools."

A helpline has been set up on 029 2040 2520, open from 0900 to 2100 BST.