Two girls ill in E.coli outbreak

The E.coli O157 bug causes abdominal pain and diarrhoea

Two girls who attended a dance camp in Pembrokeshire have contracted E.coli, it has been confirmed.

An 11-year-old from the West Midlands is being treated in hospital and a seven-year-old from Denbighshire is recovering at home.

Both had attended Dance Camp Wales in Cresselly, which runs between 29 July and 9 August.

Pembrokeshire council and the National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS) are investigating.

The NPHS said the 11-year-old girl is not in intensive care in hospital.

The organisers of Dance Camp Wales are working closely with Pembrokeshire council's Public Protection Department and the NPHS to contact everyone who attended the event.

John Bilsborough, who helps run the event, said there had never been any previous health problems during the 24 years the event has been held.

With only two cases, it's very difficult to find a common cause John Bilsborough, Dance Camp Wales

He said there were around 600 people at the event this year - a third of them children - who had come from all over the UK and some from Europe.

He described the camp, which is held annually at an organic farm at Cresselly Quay, as a "10-day celebration of dance, singing and creativity" which is "very much a family affair".

"The environmental health people are getting in touch with everybody who was at the camp to see if there any more cases," he said.

"With only two cases, it's very difficult to find a common cause.

"If they find they were camping together or came together or were swimming in the estuary together, they might have something to go on."

Anyone who did attend and is experiencing symptoms that may be associated with E.coli O157 infection should contact their GP or out of hours service for medical advice as a matter of urgency.

The serious bacterial infection causes abdominal pain and diarrhoea and symptoms range from mild diarrhoea, stomach cramps and fever to bloody diarrhoea.

Most people recover without complications, but the most severe cases can develop kidney failure.

Another outbreak

The latest E.coli cases come after an outbreak of the bug in Wrexham just three weeks ago, which left four people ill.

Karen Morrisroe-Clutton, 32, remains seriously ill in hospital but is out of a medically-induced coma.

Abigail Hennessey, three, was in hospital for two weeks and had dialysis for five days, but is now "doing well".

The Llay Fish Bar, in Llay, is closed while an investigation to pinpoint a possible source continues.

Dr Jörg Hoffmann, consultant in communicable disease control for the NPHS, said people can become infected with E.coli O157 by direct or indirect contact with animal faeces, particularly on farms and sites used for camping, and swimming in or drinking unchlorinated water.

"The illness can also be associated with contact with an infected person or from eating contaminated food," he said.

He advised people to wash and dry their hands thoroughly after going to the toilet and before preparing or eating food, while ensuring all areas of the bathroom are disinfected regularly.

People who experience symptoms are asked to contact Pembrokeshire council's public protection department on 01437 764551 (between 1000 BST and 1800 BST on weekends and between 0800 BST and 1800 BST on weekdays) or email [e-mail].