Hi °C | Lo °C THE HSE has confirmed that it had closed a child care facility where a child has contracted a form of E coli.
The First Steps creche in Midleton, Co Cork caters for children from the age of three months and runs an after-school service.
The facility caters for about 85 children and has 15 staff as well as student workers.
The move to close the centre was made after one child fell ill with Verotoxigenic E coli (VTEC).
Parents of children at the creche were notified by letter of a "probable" case last Friday.
The creche will remain closed until all children and staff have been tested and shown to be free of the deadly bacterial infection.
It could take close to a week before results are confirmed and released by testers.
Owner of the creche Rosaleen Cotter said her first priority is the safety of the children in her care.
"Our first concern is to find out where this came from so it can be dealt with," she said.
Irish Independent
