UK: 2016 E. Coli

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Source: http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk...ail/story.html

Public Health England investigating 51 cases of E.coli in Gloucestershire, Avon and Wiltshire
By MattDiscombe | Posted: July 05, 2016


Investigations continue into an outbreak of E.coli infections in Gloucestershire, Avon and Wiltshire.

Public Health England is working with Gloucestershire County Council to find out more about the cluster of E.coli 0157 infections.

PHE is investigating 51 reported cases, mostly in the Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire areas.

All cases found so far are adults and the majority are women...

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Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016...coli-outbreak/

Salad could be to blame for E. coli outbreak
5 July 2016 ? 10:17pm

Eating mixed salad leave could be linked to getting E. coli poisoning, government health officials have warned as they said more than 100 people have been infected.

Public Health England (PHE) said it was investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157, which has so far affected 109 people, and said it had put in place "heightened surveillance" across the country.

Of the known cases, 102 people live in England, six in Wales and one in Scotland, with the south-west of England particularly affected...

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Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/u...tion-continues

Update as E. coli O157 investigation continues

From:
Public Health England
First published:
5 July 2016
Last updated:
14 July 2016, see all updates


On 14 July Public Health England (PHE) is continuing to investigate an outbreak of E. coli O157, which appears to be associated with eating mixed salad leaves.

Following the last update on 5 July, PHE can now confirm that 151 cases of this strain of E. coli have been identified (figure correct as at 13 July 2016). This is 144 in England, 6 in Wales and 1 in Scotland, with the South West of England particularly affected. 62 of the cases are known to have received hospital care and sadly, 2 of the individuals with E.coli O157 infection have died.

Dr Isabel Oliver, director of PHE?s field epidemiology service, said:

PHE has been working to establish the cause of the outbreak and has identified that several of the affected individuals ate mixed salad leaves including rocket leaves prior to becoming unwell. Currently, the source of the outbreak is not confirmed and remains under investigation; we are not ruling out other food items as a potential source.

PHE is using various approaches including whole genome sequencing (WGS) technologies to test samples from those affected. WGS technologies are at the forefront of improving the diagnosis of infectious diseases and this testing has indicated that the strain involved is likely to be an imported strain, possibly from the Mediterranean area.

PHE is also working closely with the Food Standards Agency to trace, sample and test salad products grown in the UK and other parts of Europe. All food sample results to date have been negative for E.coli O157, but it?s important to be aware that where food has been contaminated with E.coli O157, it is not always possible to identify the bacteria on food testing.

As an additional precautionary measure, we have advised a small number of wholesalers to cease adding some imported rocket leaves to their mixed salad products pending further investigations.

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Source: http://www.who.int/csr/don/20-july-2016-ehec-uk/en/


Enterohaemorrhagic Escherischia coli ? United Kingdom

Disease outbreak news
20 July 2016

On 1 July 2016, the National IHR Focal Point for the United Kingdom notified WHO of an outbreak of Enterohaemorrhagic Shiga toxin-producing Escherischia coli (STEC) O157 PT34 in England and Wales.
The increase in the notifications of E. coli O157 cases was first observed by the South West Public Health England (PHE) Centre on 21 June. An outbreak control team was convened on 22 June to investigate this increase and, on 24 June, the first samples associated with this increase were confirmed as STEC serogroup O157 phage type 34, positive for the eae (intimin) and verocytotoxin 2 genes but negative for the verocytotoxin 1 gene (hereafter referred to as 'the outbreak strain').
On 27 June, a significant increase in the number of cases with the outbreak strain was observed nationally, and the incident was declared and managed as a national outbreak. Analysis of whole genome sequencing data confirmed that the isolates fall within the same cluster. The outbreak strain is not related to strains currently circulating amongst the UK bovine reservoir but rather closely related to sequences identified in people reporting recent travel to the Mediterranean region. This suggests that the outbreak strain is likely to be imported.
As of 14 July, 158 cases had been identified, of which 105 had been classified as confirmed cases and 53 as probable. Four of these patients remain in hospital. Features of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) have been reported in seven cases. Two cases have died, both of whom have E. coli infection listed as a causative factor.
Cases are distributed throughout the UK, with the majority (91%) residing in England. The outbreak is characterised by multiple small clusters linked to catering and residential care premises. The proportion of hospitalised cases is high (40%). Cases are predominantly female (75%) and over the age of 18 (91%) ? the age range is between 1 and 98 years. Onset dates for cases range from 31 May 2016 to 5 July 2016.
Multiple analytical studies have provided evidence that consumption of mixed salad leaves, particularly from catering establishments such as cafes and restaurants, is associated with the infection. Sampling and microbiological examination of salad products is continuing although all results to date have been negative for STEC O157.
Public health response

Control measures have been implemented by a small number of wholesalers to cease adding some imported leaves to their mixed salad products pending further investigations.
PHE is working with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the Food Standards Agency and the European Commission to identify the source of the outbreak. PHE is also providing advice to the public and keeping them informed about the ongoing investigations.
WHO risk assessment

The outbreak was confirmed to have been caused by a particular strain of Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) O157 Phage type 34, although the source of the infection is yet to be identified. Even though Phage type 34 is the seventh most common phage type amongst STEC O157 isolates, with 734 cases detected between 1994 and 2016, on average not more than one case is reported per week, rising to 2.35 cases per week during spring and summer; therefore, the observed increase is significant. Similar increases have not been reported from other European countries and the same strain has not been reported outside of the United Kingdom indicating that, at present, the outbreak could be restricted to the UK. WHO continues to monitor the epidemiological situation and conduct risk assessment based on the latest available information.
Backgound

Escherischia coli (E. coli) is a bacterium that is commonly found in the gut of humans and warm-blooded animals. Most strains of E. coli are harmless; however, some strains, such as enterohaemorrhagic E. coli, can cause severe foodborne disease.

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Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016...-coli-outbrea/


Experts warn against Dunsyre Blue cheese following E. coli outbreak
Lydia Willgress
29 July 2016 ? 7:08pm

Experts have warned people not to eat a type of blue cheese and to return products to shops after two people were hospitalised and 14 others fell ill in an E. coli outbreak.

Health Protection Scotland (HPS) said investigations showed a number of those affected had consumed Dunsyre Blue, made in Lanarkshire from unpasteurised milk, before they became unwell...

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Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-...-west-37063880

Toll in E. coli bug outbreak linked to blue cheese rises to 19
2 hours ago
From the section Glasgow & West Scotland

The number of people infected with the potentially deadly E. coli 0157 bug has risen to 19, health experts have said.

Two people had to be hospitalised in July after being infected with the bacteria which was linked to a cheese manufacturer in South Lanarkshire.

Health Protection Scotland said all 19 victims were recovering at home.

The first cases were detected between 2 and 15 July and were linked to Dunsyre blue cheese, which is made with unpasteurised milk...

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Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...others-8772680

Child dies from E.coli and 11 others in hospital after outbreak linked to blue cheese
16:21, 5 Sep 2016
Updated 21:33, 5 Sep 2016
By Stephen Jones
At least 20 people in Scotland and England are known to have become unwell - and an investigation has linked those cases to the Errington Cheese brand Dunsyre Blue

The outbreak - and the death - has been linked to the Dunsyre Blue brand

A child has died after an an E.coli outbreak in Scotland being linked to a brand of blue cheese.

No further information on the identity or age of the child - or where they are from exactly - has yet been released.

A multi-agency incident management team (IMT) chaired by Health Protection Scotland was investigating an outbreak of the same strain of E.coli 0157 in which 20 people were infected.

At least two of those are known to be in England.

The investigation found those affected had consumed Dunsyre Blue, made by Lanarkshire-based Errington Cheese, before they became unwell...

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Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-37378230


Angus E. coli cases 'may be linked' to national outbreak
7 hours ago
From the section Scotland

An E. coli infection affecting children in Angus may be linked to the national outbreak, NHS Scotland has confirmed.

A "small number" of children in Angus have fallen ill from the bug and a playgroup has been temporarily closed.

NHS Scotland said initial information suggested there may be a link to an outbreak associated with Dunsyre Blue cheese, made by Errington Cheese Ltd.

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has issued a ban on all cheese made by the South Lanarkshire-based producer...