It’s an unfortunate, but familiar story for UK childcares.

The Scotsman reports three infants were being treated in hospital following a suspected E coli O157 outbreak linked to the baby unit at a nursery school.

NHS Grampian confirmed that infection control specialists at the health authority are investigating two confirmed cases and four suspected cases of potentially deadly E coli O157 infection in children who attend Rose Lodge Nursery School in Aboyne, Royal Deeside.

The baby unit at the nursery school has been closed while investigations continue to identify the source of the bug. The garden in the grounds of the nursery in the heart of the village has also been declared out of bounds to the children but the nursery remains open.

The three children who have been admitted to hospital were all being cared for in the baby unit. There are a total of 40 children at the nursery, which takes children from six weeks up to the age of five.

NHS Grampian stressed yesterday the investigation to pinpoint a possible source for the bug was not focused solely on the nursery and that other potential sources of infection in the predominantly rural area were also being looked at.

A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian said no orders had been issued to close the Aboyne nursery. “The investigation is not centring on the nursery. We are also investigating other potential sources of exposure. E coli O157 are bacteria that are commonly carried in the gut of a variety of farm animals and their feces.”

NHS Grampian was informed about the first possible case of infection on Sunday night and of two other cases on Tuesday.