Four E.coli cases 'are linked'
Updated on 06 August 2009
Four people who became ill after an E.coli outbreak have the same strain of the bug, health officials confirmed.
New mother Karen Morrisroe-Clutton, 32, and three-year-old Abigail Hennessey, both from Wrexham, North Wales, suffered kidney failure after falling ill with food poisoning last week.
Mrs Morrisroe-Clutton, whose son Oliver is just 11 weeks old, remains in intensive care at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
Abigail's condition is described as "improving" at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool, where she was treated with five days of dialysis.
The toddler's mother, Sarah, and another woman were both treated after suffering less serious effects of the bug.
The National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS) said laboratory testing showed the victims had suffered E.coli O157 phage type 2.
Dr Judy Hart, consultant in communicable disease control, said it suggests their illness was linked.
Investigations into the source of the outbreak continue.
Dr Hart said: "Laboratory testing has now confirmed all four cases as E.coli O157 phage type 2. This suggests that they are all part of the same outbreak and their illness is linked. Further tests will now be conducted to confirm whether the samples from the four cases in Wrexham are absolutely identical.
"It is important to stress that, as the investigation continues, we are examining all possible sources of the illness including foreign travel, agricultural and leisure activities, as well as food and water consumed before the beginning of illness."
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