Child catches E.coli from cowpat in Birmingham park
PA
Seven people, including five children under eight, have been infected with E.coli 0157 after visiting Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield in recent weeks.
In the latest case, a child was hospitalised but has now been released and is making a recovery.
The Health Protection Agency has said that the source of infection was most likey cowpats and rabbit droppings.
The Daily Mail reports that this particular bacteria is commonly found in rural areas that have been contaminated by animal faeces.
Sutton Park, which covers around 2,400 acres, is a National Nature Reserve where cows are free to roam.
Birmingham City Council is working hard to contain the outbreak and signs have been put up warning visitors about the risk of infection and advising them to keep children and pets away from grazing animals, clean their hands throughly and washing boots, bicycle wheels and buggy wheels after walking in the park.
Dr Roger Gajraj from the Health Protection Agency told the Daily Mail: "E.coli 0157 can be very serious in young children and can in some instances cause kidney failure."
He added: "To minimise the risk of infection parents may want to consider taking very young children to other parks in the local area."
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