PUBLIC health workers in Pendle say they intend to take a close look at an investigation into the outbreak of E.coli 0157 food poisoning in Scotland.

The outbreak co-incided with two cases reported in Pendle, and led to a team of local experts being gathered together to attempt to trace the source of the infection.

Pendle's environmental health team say control of the local outbreak was managed successfully, but they still plan to examine the Pennington report when it reaches its final conclusions to see if any lessons can be learned.

Environmental health officer Stuart Arnott reports to Pendle councillors tonight (Thursday).

He said several people who became ill obtained their milk from the same source; a farm outside the Pendle area. When it was traced the farmer recalled milk immediately.

Routine tests revealed that a pasteurisation machine was faulty and it was rectified at once.

Mr Arnott added: "There is no definite proof that milk from the farm was the source of the out- break.

"Prompt action by the outbreak control team and helpful reporting by the media helped to ensure the outbreak was contained.

"Numbers affected by E.coli infection, therefore, remained very small and this made it much more difficult to trace with certainty the source of the outbreak."

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