June 27th 2024.
The United Kingdom is currently facing a concerning situation as an E.coli outbreak has been reported. Unfortunately, the severity of this outbreak has been highlighted by a recent death linked to the illness in England. The UK Health Security Agency has confirmed that this individual passed away due to the ongoing outbreak of E.coli.
According to the UKHSA, two people in England have died within 28 days of being infected with shiga toxin-producing E.coli. The agency stated that based on information from healthcare professionals, one of these deaths is likely linked to their STEC infection. Both individuals had pre-existing medical conditions and their deaths occurred in May.
This unfortunate situation has arisen amidst a spate of over 100 E.coli infections reported throughout the UK. Of those infected, 86 have been hospitalized due to their symptoms. The UKHSA believes that all of these cases are part of a single outbreak. Although the cause of this outbreak was initially thought to be a ready-to-eat dairy item, the specific product has not been identified by the agency.
New information suggests that the outbreak may have been caused by certain supermarket sandwiches containing salad leaves. As a precaution, several manufacturers have issued recalls for their products. Darren Whitby, Head of Incidents at the Food Standards Agency, stated that earlier this month they confirmed that various sandwich products were being recalled after it was determined that a type of lettuce used in these products was the likely cause of the outbreak.
The investigation into this outbreak is ongoing and the FSA is working closely with businesses and local authorities to ensure that necessary measures are being taken to protect consumers. While they are confident that the source of the outbreak is linked to lettuce, they are continuing to work with growers, suppliers, and manufacturers to confirm this and identify the root cause in order to prevent future occurrences.
The latest figures from the UKHSA show that there have been 19 additional cases linked to this outbreak, bringing the total to 275 confirmed cases. Of these, 182 were reported in England, 58 in Scotland, 31 in Wales, and four in Northern Ireland.
In light of this outbreak, it is important for individuals to take steps to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal infections. This includes regularly washing hands with warm water and soap, following food hygiene measures such as washing fruit and vegetables, and avoiding preparing food for others or visiting hospitals or care homes if experiencing diarrhea and vomiting.
According to UKHSA, 49% of the first 245 cases led to hospitalization. Amy Douglas, Incident Director at UKHSA, expressed relief that there have been fewer cases reported recently, but they still expect to see a few more as further samples are tested. She also provided information on the symptoms of STEC infections and advised on steps to take to reduce the risk of infection and prevent further spread.
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