Health chiefs slammed over E.coli outbreak

An independent investigation has criticised the Health Protection Agency (HPA) for its reaction to an E.coli outbreak at a petting farm.

The report has said the HPA missed an opportunity to restrict the size of the outbreak.

The agency has come under fire after the virus erupted at Godstone Farm near Redhill, Surrey which infected 93 people.

The investigation, commissioned by the HPA, said the outbreak could have been avoided if measures had been taken to limit exposure to animal faeces, which put people at risk of contracting E.coli.

The report was led by George Griffin, who is a professor of infectious diseases: "Once it had started, there is no doubt that, even with prompt action, this would have been a big outbreak.

"Nevertheless there was a lack of public health leadership by the Health Protection Agency and a missed opportunity to exercise decisive public health action and thereby restrict the size of the outbreak."

Last week, it was announced some families affected by the E.coli outbreak were preparing to launch a group legal action.

Jill Greenfield, a partner at law firm Field Fisher Waterhouse, who is co-ordinating the group legal action representing at least 25 children and one adult, previously said: "We are preparing to issue proceedings, we believe the farm was negligent.

"We have a number of children very seriously affected by exposure to bacteria, experiencing renal problems which could continue for some time yet. Our primary goal is to establish how on earth this happened and how much the farm knew about this."

Among those affected were Tracy Mock's three-year-old twins, who spent weeks in hospital fighting the bug following a visit to the farm.

Her son, Aaron Furnell, suffered acute kidney failure and has to be taken to a hospital every six weeks for blood and urine tests. He still uses a feeding tube for ingesting liquids.

His twin Todd, who has 80 per cent kidney function, is due to have a further check-up in September and more tests next year.

Godstone Farm, which has since reopened.