Mum's anger after outbreak

AN angry mother has hit out after 14 children, including her daughter, became victims of an E-coli outbreak centred on a Dollingstown nursery school.

The local mum is particularly concerned the disease was allowed to spread at Holly House nursery following the identification of the first case of E-coli which she claimed was a week before the nursery closed voluntarily.

The mother of the infected toddler said Wednesday (September 1) was her daughter's first full day at the nursery, having been at the Dollingstown nursery for the previous two weeks by way of induction.

"I got a letter when I left her off saying that there had been one case," said the furious mum.

"It seemed it wasn't a big deal and there was nothing to worry about.

"On Wednesday night we got a call saying the nursery was closed because of the outbreak. We had to send in a faecal sample every 48 hours from our daughter. It came back positive on Saturday. So far she's not showing any symptoms.

"We've had to take time off work to look after her. I have absolutely no idea how long I'll be off work for.

"I can't send her to anyone else to look after."

The mother of one said: "It hasn't come from the nursery as far as they know, but it's spread there. The first positive result was on August 26, the second child was a couple of days later.

"Letters were given out to some parents on Monday morning. I got a letter on Wednesday. If your child didn't start until Friday you weren't informed until Friday.

"Regardless of how it got there it shouldn't have spread."

She added: "This will always be on her record that she's had E-coli. I'm the biggest germ freak you've ever met - this looks like she's from an unclean home.

"She had a two week settling-in period at the nursery, then Wednesday was her first full day. I don't know how long she's had this for because it wasn't until Wednesday I knew about the outbreak."