Scare Story: Surrey Farm Breeds EColi, Bacteria Escape
SCARE Story: “20,000 children put at risk by dithering at E.coli farm,” announces the Times on its front page.
But why farm E-coli? The risks seem clear.
The Mail is more circumspect:
“Why was E-Coli farm left open?”
The story behind the scare story is that after a case of E-coli was confirmed at Godstone Farm in Surrey, the place remained open.
Sky News looks at the Times’ 20,000 and trumps it:
The first case was confirmed at the farm on August 27 – since then tens of thousands of visitors are believed to have passed through its doors.
The Mail is more precise:
However, there could be many more because of the bug’s long incubation period. In fact, 50,000 people who spent time at the attraction since early August have been urged to seek medical advice.
The facts:
Thirty-six people, including 12 children, have been taken ill. Three children remain seriously unwell.
The story:
Following a visit by environmental health officers and Health Protection Agency officials on September 3, the farm’s managers were told that contact with high-risk animals should cease. Over the next week, more E Coli cases emerged, but none before the non-contact measures were introduced on September 3. However, on September 11, environmental health officers learned of another E Coli case, this time involving someone who had visited the farm on September 4. The farm was advised to close and shut the next day.
The panic…
Posted: 14th, September 2009 | In: Reviews Comment (1) | TrackBack | Permalink
