One confirmed fatal case of E. coli strain in the UK

An outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) has been detected in the UK, resulting in at least one confirmed death. The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) has reported two deaths in May linked to this dangerous strain, although only one has been directly linked to STEC. Both victims had pre-existing conditions that may have contributed to their deaths.

 

As of the end of June, 275 cases of infection have been reported in the UK, of which 86 have required hospitalisation. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has identified that the source of the contamination appears to be a batch of lettuce, although it has not been clarified whether this was grown locally or imported.

 

In response to this situation, several sandwich producers have decided to recall their products from the market. Darren Whitby, FSA Incident Manager, said that through food chain tracing and epidemiological analysis, a number of consumer products have been found to contain small amounts of possibly contaminated lettuce leaves.

 

The FSA continues to work closely with growers, wholesalers and manufacturers to accurately identify the source of contamination and ensure food safety.