Two more E.coli cases suspected

E.coli infections can lead to severe illness

Health officials in County Durham say they have found another two suspected cases of the food poisoning bug E.coli.

Nine cases have been confirmed in Durham and Chester-le-Street, including a one-year-old child, and a further five were already being investigated.

Four people are currently being treated in hospital in north Durham.

Dr Trisha Cresswell, director of public health at Durham and Chester-le-Street, had said earlier that the outbreak seemed to be under control.

The BBC's Bob Sinkinson

Officials have identified Castlebank Butchers in Chester-le-Street as a possible link to the outbreak.

Public health and environmental officials from Chester-le-Street District Council, Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust and the Health Protection Agency are investigating the outbreak.

Dr Cresswell said: "We are working with one particular butcher, where we think we have a possible link.

Kidney damage

"That butcher has agreed to voluntarily close during our investigations.

"In addition we have issued advice to the public that if they have bought cold cooked meat products from this butcher, they should dispose of them and not eat them."

Health officials are expecting to release further details of the outbreak after initial laboratory tests have been completed.

E.coli causes a range of symptoms from mild diarrhoea to a severe illness which can lead to kidney damage.

It can be found in the intestines of many healthy animals and meat or milk can become contaminated during the slaughter or milking.

If the bacteria are not killed by cooking or pasteurising, this can give rise to the E.coli infection.

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