UK - E Coli Outbreak causes 151 infections, 2 fatalities - O157

[Gert van der Hoek]

Monday 18 July 2016

Mixed salad leaves linked to E coli outbreak that has killed two in UK

Public Health England advises thorough washing of leaves including rocket after 151 people fall ill, with 62 needing hospital care

Health watchdogs have warned people to thoroughly wash mixed salad leaves after the food item appeared to be the source of an outbreak of E coli food poisoning that has so far infected 151 people in Britain, leaving two of them dead.

Public Health England (PHE) said several of those affected were known to have eaten mixed salad, including rocket, before becoming unwell.

Symptoms can include bloody diarrhoea, stomach cramps and occasionally fever. People usually notice signs of the illness three to four days after they have been infected, but symptoms can start any time between one and 14 days after ingesting the bacteria and can last up to two weeks.

Testing of samples from those who had fallen ill also indicated the strain of E coli 0157 was likely to have been imported, possibly from the Mediterranean.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Symptoms of E. coli O157 infection

Symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and occasionally fever. About half of people with the infection will have bloody diarrhoea.

People usually notice symptoms three to four days after they have been infected, but symptoms can start any time between one and 14 days afterwards.

These symptoms can last up to two weeks.

A small number of people with E. coli O157 infection go on to develop a serious condition called haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). This can sometimes lead to kidney failure and death, although this is rare. The risk of HUS is highest in children aged under five years.

Some people become infected but don't develop symptoms.