37 in hospital after mystery E.coli surge
Hunt to find food blamed for outbreak
AT least 37 people have been hospitalised by a national E.coli outbreak caused by a mystery food item.
The UK Health Security Agency said testing shows most of the 113 cases reported in the past fortnight are part of a single outbreak.
Investigators are trying to establish which food item is responsible so it can be removed from shops.
UKHSA said: “Based on the wide geographic spread of cases, it is most likely that this outbreak is linked to a nationally distributed food item or multiple food items.”
E.coli bacteria are normally harmless and live in the intestines of humans and animals.
But some strains produce toxins that can make people very ill, such as the Shiga toxin-producing form of E.coli, known as Stec. Trish Mannes, of UKHSA, said: “Symptoms of infections with Stec include severe and sometimes bloody diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever.
“Washing hands and using disinfectants to clean surfaces will help stop infections spreading. If unwell with diarrhoea and vomiting, you should not prepare food for others, and avoid visiting people in hospitals or care homes. RIsk fAcTOR
“Do not return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after symptoms stop.”
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