The Guardian Unlimited reports that the number of E coli cases among schoolchildren has risen to 75 in 27 schools across south Wales. A number of the children affected have been treated in hospital and some remain very ill.
Investigations into the source of the has concentrated on meat suppliers John Tudor and Sons of Bridgend, who has agreed to withdraw its cooked meats from sale on Monday and has now been ordered to stop trading following an Environmental Health investigation.
Kelyn Williams, manager at John Tudor and Son, said the company was co-operating fully with investigators. He said, “On Monday we stopped all deliveries and the plant has been shut ever since. We are working alongside environmental health to find the source of the problem.”
Stringent hygiene procedures have also been put in place in schools to stop the bug spreading from person to person. Children’s play areas, such as sand pits, have been ruled off limits, as has playing with water and Plasticine, all because they are potential sources of infection.