CHRISTCHURCH MP Chris Chope has asked what is being done to prevent a further outbreak of E.coli in Dorset.

It comes after the Daily Echo revealed in July that public health bosses did not inform the public about a deadly strain of E.Coli for 140 days - despite it already infecting 21 people.

The first outbreak of its kind in England, E.coli VTEC 055 struck down a total of 31 people in the county between July 2014 and November 2015.

Eleven children and two adults were left fighting for their lives as a result of suffering Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), a rare complication of the infection which affects the blood, kidneys and, in the most severe cases, the central nervous system.

Mr Chope asked the secretary of state for health if he would place in the library copies of the reports made by Public Health England into the outbreaks, and what steps he is taking to prevent a future outbreak.

Steve Brine, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health responded in a written answer, saying: "Despite rigorous and extensive investigation of this unusual strain of Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O55, a single source was not identified.

"The evidence suggests that the likely source was a local zoonotic (from animals) infection.

"No further cases of this unusual strain of VTEC with links to Dorset have been seen since late 2015."

He added: "Public Health England (PHE) has well established systems to identify new cases of this infection and well-rehearsed operational procedures to respond should any future cases emerge.

"These systems were last tested in a cross-Government exercise in November 2016.

"There is extensive guidance and advice on preventing the transmission of VTEC on the PHE website, NHS Choices and the Food Standards Agency website."