Kids have got stuffed toy bug
NOT many of us would want to cuddle up to E.coli and Streptococcus this winter, but that's exactly what these cuddle toys are.
The bizarre creatures, designed to look like the bugs that cause common colds, sore throats and coughs have become the latest craze.
The fluffy GiantMicrobes are the same shape and colour as the real thing — but one million times bigger.
They have been given human features such as eyes, a mouth and nose to make them more appealing to young children.
Amusing
The Chickenpox microbe even looks a bit like a chicken.
The company that makes them says they "make great learning tools, as well as amusing gifts for anyone with a sense of humour."
They have also become popular as a get well soon gift to people suffering from the condition the soft toy represents.
Each of the toys — which sell for £6.95 — comes with information about the microbe and a magnified image so people can compare the likeness.
The range of 75 toys includes stomach ache (Shigella), sore throat (Streptococcus), cough (B. Pertussis), flu (Orthomyoxvirus) and kissing disease (Epstein-Barr).
Parenting expert Catherine Hanly, who has a seven-year-old daughter, said the scientific theme combined with a friendly look meant they appealed to children and adults.
She said: "My daughter's godfather is a research scientist and if he finds out he can buy her the giant fluffy toy representing penicillin or the common cold, it'll probably be under her tree this Christmas."
James Pritchard-Barrett, who distributes the toys in the UK, said the company was now looking to create a SpongeBob SquarePants-style cartoon featuring the characters.
He said: "Their popularity is spreading like a pandemic - not just among children but health professionals and medical students too.
"Doctors find it breaks the ice when explaining conditions to patients and environmental health workers can show people the effects of unhygienic practices.
"Each GiantMicrobe comes with a card that explains what the microbe is, what it does and how it can be avoided.
"This year we have sold a lot of swine flu and E.coli toys because those viruses have been in the news a lot."
Harvard University graduate Drew Oliver designed the first few toys as a get well gift that could be given to someone who was ill.
Toy ... the E.coli bug
