E.coli outbreak: One person dies and 275 infected from supermarket sandwiches
One person has died in England after 275 were infected with bacteria from supermarket sandwiches, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it had identified two people in England who died within 28 days of infection with shiga toxin-producing E.coli (Stec).
As of June 25, there have been a further 19 cases of Stec, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 275 in the UK. A number of food manufacturers have recalled sandwiches, wraps and salads sold in major supermarkets and retail chains over fears they are linked to the outbreak.
The UKHSA said the number of cases it is seeing is declining, but more will come to light as further samples are referred from NHS laboratories.
So far, there have been 182 cases in England, 58 in Scotland, 31 in Wales and four in Northern Ireland. The latter cases are thought to have acquired their infection in England. At least 122 people have been admitted to hospital for treatment since the start of the outbreak. The person died in May and had underlying health conditions, the agency said
Amy Douglas, Incident Director at UKHSA, said: "We’re pleased that fewer cases have been reported, however, we still expect to see a few more cases linked to this outbreak as further samples are referred to us for testing.
"Symptoms of infections with STEC include severe and sometimes bloody diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever. While diarrhoea and vomiting can have a range of causes, there are simple steps you can take to reduce your risk and the risk of infecting others.
"Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using disinfectants to clean surfaces will help stop any further spread of infection.
"If you are unwell, you should not prepare food for others while unwell and avoid visiting people in hospitals or care homes to avoid passing on the infection in these settings. Do not return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped. If you are concerned about your symptoms, follow http://NHS.UK guidance on when to seek help and the steps you can take to avoid further spread to family and friends."
Several food manufacturers have issued recalls for some of their products
Following this outbreak, several food manufacturers have issued recalls for their products as a precautionary measure.
Darren Whitby, Head of Incidents at the Food Standards Agency said: "Earlier this month, we confirmed that several sandwich manufacturers had taken precautionary action to withdraw and recall various sandwiches, wraps, subs and rolls after food chain and epidemiological links enabled us to narrow down a wide range of foods to a type of lettuce used in sandwich products as the likely cause of the outbreak.
"This remains a complex investigation and we continue to work with the relevant businesses and the local authorities to ensure necessary steps are being taken to protect consumers. Although we are confident in the likely source of the outbreak being linked to lettuce, work continues to confirm this and identify the root cause of the outbreak with the growers, suppliers and manufacturers so that actions can be taken to prevent a re-occurrence"
E. coli is a diverse group of bacteria that are normally harmless and live in the intestines of humans and animals.However, some strains produce toxins that can make people very ill, such as Stec.
Some patients, mainly children, may develop haemolytic uraemic syndrome, which is a serious life-threatening condition resulting in kidney failure. A small proportion of adults may develop a similar condition called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).
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