Nursery ‘hit by E.coli outbreak’

A NURSERY has closed over a ‘probable’ outbreak of potentially fatal E.coli.

Health chiefs say a number of children have been affected by the gastric bug at Cherrytrees Nursery in Hawick, Roxburghshire, which caters for up to 63 children. Staff have been asked to stay at home.

NHS Borders has not said what the source of the infection is, but the nursery’s directors said it was ‘external’.

E.coli can cause severe stomach pain, kidney failure and death. The risk is highest in children under the age of five.

NHS Borders director of public health Dr Tim Patterson said: ‘I want to reassure people that the measures we are taking are preventative in order to limit the spread of this infection.’

The nursery’s directors, Lisa and Stewart Bennet, added: ‘It has been identified as an external source and we are working with Public Health Scotland to get the nursery back up and running as quickly as possible.’