Outbreak of E coli O157 is linked to Surrey open farm

A large outbreak of Escherichia coli O157 at a farm in Surrey has resulted in 12 children needing hospital treatment. Three of them remain seriously ill.

The Health Protection Agency said that 36 cases of E coli O157 have been linked to Godstone farm, near Redhill in Surrey. The farm, which lets children pet and feed animals, receives up to 2000 visitors a day during school holidays.

Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of microbiology at Aberdeen University, said: “This is a very large outbreak for an open farm; usually there are only one or two cases. It is a puzzle why there have been so many cases.”

Questions are being asked as to why the farm …