BBC News | SCOTLAND | Campaign calls for E.coli action

Campaigners on behalf of E.coli 0157 victims have said animals should be kept off fields for at least three months to minimise the risk of infection.

This is longer than is officially recommended, before land is put to any recreational use.

The support group has been making its first comments on the E.coli Task Force report which was published earlier this week.

It was set up by the Food Standards Agency and follows a number of high profile outbreaks of the disease in Scotland.

The task force outlined food safety and environmental advice designed to protect people from the potentially deadly bacterium.

Bill Reilly: "Two key themes"

One of the highest risks of contracting the bug is from cattle and sheep droppings. The organism only occasionally affects humans but it is potentially fatal.

Scientists have been concerned at the increase in incidences of the bug following Scotland's worst outbreak in Wishaw in 1996 in which 21 people died.

Speaking after the launch of the publication, Professor Bill Reilly said the success of the initiative would hinge on education and communication.

Camping field dangers

He said: "That could be hygiene in the home, or on the farm. It can be communication at school to the workforce, to the farming community and to the health professionals.

"These are the two key themes."

Last month, 13 girl guides and their leader contracted E.coli O157 after camping in a field in Inverclyde.

That followed a scout camp in Aberdeenshire last year in which 18 children were infected after camping in fields.


		^^ Back to top News Front Page \| World \| UK \| UK Politics \| Business \| Sci/Tech \| Health \| Education \| Entertainment \| Talking Point \| In Depth \| AudioVideo ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To BBC Sport>> \| To BBC Weather>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © MMIII\|News Sources\|Privacy