By Aileen Robertson

THREE TODDLERS at a Dunfermline nursery are seriously ill in hospital after a suspected outbreak of E.coli.

The two-year-olds, two of whom have been named as Lorna Balfour and Abigail Young, have suffered kidney failure as a result of being infected with the potentially fatal E.coli 0157 strain.

They are being treated at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill, Glasgow.

All three attend the Careshare nursery at Lauder College. It is feared other children at the nursery may have been infected with the bug, which has an incubation period of anything from a day to two weeks.

NHS Fife confirmed the first child started showing symptoms, which include sickness, diarrhoea, stomach pain and fever, on Friday evening. After the second became ill on Monday, an outbreak control team was mobilised. A third child was taken to hospital yesterday morning.

Careshare took the decision to close the nursery yesterday while the source of the infection is investigated.

The nursery, on Lauder’s Halbeath campus, was opened in August last year and looks after about 100 children from six weeks to five-years-old.

A spokesperson for Careshare said, “We have closed the nursery voluntarily. We immediately advised the authorities and they have been in and inspected the nursery. They are completely satisfied with hygiene and cleanliness at the premises.

“There has been no evidence to suggest the outbreak started at the nursery and the authorities are investigating the source. We are taking advice from environmental health and health officials. Our concern is with the health of the children.”

Meanwhile, public health experts from NHS Fife are investigating the outbreak alongside the council’s environmental services department.

Dr Charles Saunders, consultant in public health medicine, said, “The source of these infections is not yet known. We are writing to all parents and staff at the nursery with advice on E.coli 0157 infection and offering screening for E.coli 0157 infection.

“We have not so far been able to exclude possible food or water sources. We are working with Fife Council’s environmental services department. It is certainly possible that other children who attend the nursery may be affected.”

E.coli can be spread by eating or drinking contaminated food, milk or water and it is possible to catch an unhealthy type of the germ from someone else who has the infection.

Dr Saunders offered some advice for preventing the spread of disease.

He said, “E.coli 0157 can spread easily. By taking some simple precautions people can help reduce the risk of catching the infection. Careful hand washing, especially before eating, after using the toilet and before and after handling food, is one of the most effective methods people can use to avoid the infection.”

Lauder principal Professor Bill McIntosh said staff at the college were praying for the toddlers’ recovery. He added, “We can confirm that two of the three children to have reported symptoms are children of our students. We are unable to add any further comment at this stage until the source of this outbreak is confirmed from the environmental health agency. However, we understand that preliminary reports would appear to suggest that the outbreak is not focused on the nursery itself.”

It emerged last night the nursery had been criticised by Government inspectors in January.

HM Inspectorate of Education, following a visit in October 2005, reported that staff did not change aprons often enough or use two gloves when changing nappies.

The inspectors’ report said, “Staff did not ensure infection control procedures were followed consistently.

“Some infection control issues were identified during the inspection.

“While appropriate policies and procedures had been developed, the manager must ensure that these are known to all staff and fully implemented.”

The world’s worst recorded occurrence of E.coli killed 21 elderly people in Lanarkshire in 1996. More than 400 people were infected with the E.coli 0157 bacteria after an outbreak which was traced to John Barr’s butcher’s shop in Wishaw.

Professor Hugh Pennington, who led the inquiry into the Lanarkshire outbreak, said “E.coli is a very common bug, we all carry it in our gut. But the commonest E.colis which cause health problems in kids in this country is E. coli 0157.”