Gibbons' pledge after boy's death

Boy, 5, dies in E.coli outbreak E.coli outbreak timeline

The Welsh Assembly Government will do "whatever we can" to prevent a repeat of the E.coli outbreak in south Wales, the health minister has pledged.

It follows the death of five-year-old Mason Jones in a Bristol hospital, a week after being admitted with E.coli.

Dr Brian Gibbons expressed his sympathy to the Jones family in his statement to the the assembly on Tuesday.

Mason, from Deri near Bargoed, died at Bristol Children's Hospital on Monday.

Dr Gibbons told the assembly: "I would first like to express my sympathy to the family of Mason Jones from Deri, near Bargoed, who died yesterday at Bristol Children's hospital where he was being treated for an E.coli infection.

"I am sure that all members will wish to join me in this."

The minister said he had asked the Food Standards Agency to "consider and review the inspection reports" completed by Bridgend council and to report to him by the end of the week.

'Devastating impact'

And Dr Gibbons said it appeared there had been no new "primary cases" in the outbreak since 26 September, but that a number of cases remained under investigation.

Mason was transferred to hospital in Bristol, where he died

He added: "We can't just wait for the inquiry. We do need to be proactive in making sure that we do whatever we can do to stop this happening again."

Earlier, Dr Gibbons said: "This terrible news makes me more determined than ever to get to the bottom of the causes of this outbreak and take every step to make sure this never happens again."

Huw Lewis, Labour AM for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, said he knew from speaking to local people that Mason's death had had a "devastating impact" on the community.

"I simply ask if the minister will ensure that no question will remain unanswered through our assembly inquiry so as to ensure that such an outbreak will never happen again," he said.

Welsh Children's Minister Jane Hutt added: "It is a very sad and sobering moment here today. We all express our deepest sympathy and condolences to the family."

Ms Hutt said that an assembly committee would begin to look into the terms of reference for a "no holds barred" inquiry. Meanwhile, the outbreak control team said on Tuesday that the "situation remains dynamic".

A statement said: "There continue to be new cases. However, some cases - originally suspected of E coli O157 - have not been confirmed and, therefore, have been taken off the total".

Dr Gwen Lowe, consultant in communicable disease control for Wales and chair of the outbreak control team, called Mason's death "a tragedy".

"It is a sad fact that the E.coli infection sometimes leads to renal failure and, rarely, death.

"This fact reinforces the seriousness of the outbreak and has underlined our response. Every member of the team is further strengthened in our resolve to protect the public and put an end to this outbreak."