HEALTH experts were today racing to pinpoint the source of the E-coli food poisoning outbreak in Pendle as the number of cases rose to nine.

Three more people have been found to have the potentially lethal infection in the past 24 hours.

The new cases were announced as environmental health officers are trying to find a common link between the five families already affected.

The nine cases of the infection come from across the borough and it has not yet been revealed whether the latest three involve adults or children.

There are no close links between the four children, all aged under four years, and two adults, who came down with severe diarrhoea after contracting the killer bug, although two of the families are acquainted.

Officers at Pendle Council believe the infection is linked to a common food source, most likely contaminated milk or meat, and they have talked to the families to find a pattern for the spread of the bug. The infection was first spotted in West Craven but there have been isolated cases reported in other parts of the borough.

Stuart Arnott, the council's principal environmental health officer, said: "We're trying to find the source to start with and taking action to stop it spreading. We're following a number of leads.

"It's been a matter of talking to the people involved and the rest of their families to try and find a common link which may be the cause of this infection.

"We are screening the people affected by it and making sure these individuals do not pass it on to other people."

Fortunately none of the people involved worked with food or in the food industry. Two of the children and one adult are still being treated in hospital where their conditions are improving. The other people affected were either treated in hospital and discharged or were treated at home. Meanwhile people in East Lancashire, particularly parents with young children and the elderly, were advised to take extra care to prevent the infection taking hold.

Dr Andrew Clark, of East Lancashire Health Authority's public health department, said: "Parents with young children should wash their hands before and after changing nappies and take extra care when it comes to hygiene."

Young children and the elderly are particularly at risk from E-coli.

The health authority has also issued common-sense advice to people. A spokesman said: "Transmission of the disease is best prevented by careful hand-washing with soap and warm water after using the toilet. Similarly hands should be properly washed before food preparation and after handling raw meat. Raw meat should be stored separately from cooked food.

"General measures for children with diarrhoea still apply. This includes not attending nursery, primary or secondary schools if they have diarrhoea. Similarly children should not be looked after by child minders if they have diarrhoea."

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