PUBLIC health chiefs are investigating the causes of an outbreak of the food bug E coli in East Lancashire.

Nine people, one from Burnley, have been infected since the middle of August, but doctors do not believe the cases are linked.

Dr Roberta Marshall, consultant in communicable disease control, said: "We are taking these reports of E coli 0157 infections very seriously and the health authority and local authorities in East Lancashire will continue their very detailed investigations of all cases.

"We don't think that these cases are part of an outbreak with a common cause. Laboratory tests have shown that a number of different types of the E coli 0157 bacterium are responsible for the infections.

"However, this is more cases than we would expect to see over a four-week period."

Anyone who develops diarrhoea that does not abate within 48 hours is being advised to contact their GP. If diarrhoea contains blood or you have a fever or bad stomach pains, contact your GP immediately. The very young and very old are most at risk from diarrhoea and need prompt attention.

A spokesman for the health authority said E coli was best prevented through good hygiene in the kitchen. Food, especially beef, should be cooked thoroughly and unpasteurised mill should be avoided.

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