HEALTH experts last night moved quickly to allay fears that the E-coli bacterium had returned to central Scotland.

The current illness being suffered by a number of Scots only appeared similar to E-coli 0157 food poisoning and was not life threatening, health authorities said. The latest bacterium is called cryptosporidiosis - a gastro-intestinal infection which can give the victim abdominal pains and diarrhoea.

Lanarkshire Health Board said there was an increase in its area in the number of cases and, as a precaution, people with babies under one year or those who are immuno-comprised - such as HIV victims and renal dialysis patients - have been told to avoid drinking all water unless it has been boiled.