Two women and a girl of 12 have gone down with the potentially lethal stomach bacterium E-coli O157 after returning to Scotland from a holiday in Turkey.

Two of the three, who all live in central Fife, have been confirmed as having the bacterium, and the third case is suspected.

NHS Fife said yesterday they had been on holiday about a fortnight ago in the Aegean resort of Marmaris.

Dr Mike Roworth, consultant in public health medicine, said: "Our investigations are continuing as it is possible that other people at that resort may also have been affected."

The girl and the two women, both 35, are now recovering at home.

However, previous outbreaks have led to organ failure and even death, with the very young and old particularly at risk.

The incubation period for E-coli O157 is usually around one to 14 days and symptoms can include diarrhoea, feeling sick, vomiting, stomach pain and fever.

Dr Roworth stressed that the bacterium can spread easily, but by taking some simple precautions people can help reduce the risk of catching the infection.

He added: "Careful hand-washing, especially before eating, after using the toilet and before and after handling food, is one of the most effective methods.

"If you are abroad and have any doubts about whether local tap water is safe to drink, it's best to buy bottled water for drinking and cleaning your teeth, and avoid ice cubes."

Last year, there were 243 reported cases of E-coli O157 in Scotland. The worst outbreak in Scotland, and one of the worst in the world, occurred in 1996 in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, when 21 elderly people died.