ALTHOUGH food poisoning can have disastrous consequences for everyone, the recent outbreak of the E.coli bug is more worrying in a town like Ilkley.

The bug which causes diarrhoea and nausea, although deeply unpleasant, is usually less serious in healthy individuals in the prime of life. The most common symptoms are stomach cramps and diarrhoea which can turn bloody after two or three days.

For youngsters, the elderly and those weak from other complaints, the bug can have very serious and even fatal consequences.

These people may suffer kidney failure, brain damage, strokes, seizures or death.

Ilkley, with its high proportion of elderly residents, many in nursing homes or sheltered accommodation, is a town which has more to fear from an outbreak of E.coli 0157 than others.

Although measures have been taken to eliminate the bug which causes E.coli from buildings, the most usual way to contract it is through contact with someone who is contaminated.

That is why the health authorities are issuing guidelines about rigorous standards of hygiene when preparing food, going to the toilet and handling animals.

The guidance suggests that those with good standards of general hygiene and those who cook food properly have less chance of catching the bug.

A recent outbreak in Scotland which effected around 400 people, resulted in the death of 18 elderly people. That source was traced to contaminated cooked meat.

Officials are now busy trying to track down the source of the Ben Rhydding outbreak and hopefully eliminate the risk. But until that happens people should meticulously follow the advice issued by the Primary Care Trusts to prevent a minor problem developing into a major outbreak with all the risks that involves.