Two young sisters hospitalised in Cork city following an outbreak of the potentially fatal strain of the E-coli food bacterium have been sent home as public health investigators yesterday set about trying the trace the source of the outbreak.
According to the Southern Health Board, three children have fallen ill with gastroenteritis caused by E-coli 0157 over the past two weeks. Two of them, sisters from near Fermoy, had to be hospitalised. The third child, a girl, is from Cork city.
While the SHB declined to comment in detail, it is understood one of the sisters - a 10-year-old girl - was quite seriously ill but her seven-year-old sister was not seriously affected. The children's mother was also affected by the bug but was not hospitalised. The third child was also ill but did not have to be hospitalised. Investigators are trying to establish whether there is a link between this and the Fermoy cases.
SHB public health officials were yesterday trying to trace the source of the outbreaks amid unconfirmed reports that the north Cork children may have contracted the bacterium from undercooked minced meat.
It is understood that SHB investigators have taken food samples from a number of sources and are carrying out tests to establish if any of them may have generated the bacterium. Results are expected later today at the earliest, according to the SHB.
An SHB spokesperson said the main food sources of E-coli 0157 are undercooked mince or burgers, cooked meats which have come in contact with raw meats, unpasteurised milk, raw vegetables contaminated by manure, and untreated water sources.
"It is well recognised that levels of E-coli 0157 organism are on the increase generally and that there is a seasonal variation with an upsurge in the summer months. It is therefore expected that some cases will occur," said an SHB spokesperson.
The SHB spokesperson advised that all poultry, sausages, burgers and chopped or minced meats be cooked right through until the juices run clear and no pink areas remain.