Woman in hospital after new outbreak of E.coli

A woman is seriously ill in an Edinburgh hospital in a new outbreak of the E. coli 0157 food-poisoning bacteria which has claimed 20 lives in Scotland in recent months.

Five people in the Scottish Borders have been confirmed as having the bacteria, although only one is in hospital.

Tom Skinner, the secretary of Borders Health Board, said the woman, who has not been named, is being treated at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. He said that two of the cases appeared to be unrelated but the other three, including the woman in hospital, had attended a traditional Scottish supper in the village of Roberton on 7 February. Health chiefs say they want anyone who was at the supper and who may have experienced symptoms to attend a special clinic, although, at this stage, the source of the outbreak is not known, and investigations are continuing.