E.coli outbreak linked to ‘nationally distributed food item’ sparks urgent UK health warning with 113 cases already

AN urgent health warning has been issued after an E.coli outbreak has seen more than 30 people rushed to hospital.

More than 100 people are sick after the breakout, which is said to have come from a “nationally distributed food item”.

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UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said 113 cases in the UK had been linked, but it did not give any more information on what food was thought to be to blame.

It said of the sick, around 37 people had been raced to hospital.

Infections can cause severe bloody diarrhoea and there’s also a risk of more serious consequences.

It can be passed on by eating contaminated food.

It can also however be spread by contact with an infected person, or an infected animal or its environment.

UKHSA said there were 81 cases in England, 18 in Wales, 13 in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland.

It said the outbreak was unlikely to have come from open farms, drinking water or swimming in contaminated sea, lakes or rivers.

The agency today said: “Based on the wide geographic spread of cases, it is most likely that this outbreak is linked to a nationally distributed food item or multiple food items.”

Darren Whitby, head of incidents and resilience at the Food Standards Agency (FSA), said: “The FSA is working with UKHSA and relevant public health bodies to identify the source of the illness, which is likely to be linked to one or more food items.

“We always advise consumers and those looking after vulnerable people to ensure good hygiene practices are followed when handling and preparing food, regularly washing hands with soap and warm water and ensuring equipment, utensils and surfaces foods come into contact with are cleaned thoroughly to prevent cross contamination.

“You should not prepare food for others if you have had symptoms, or for 48 hours after symptoms stop.”

Trish Mannes, incident director at UKHSA, said: “If you have diarrhoea and vomiting, you can take steps to avoid passing it on to family and friends.

“NHS.uk has information on what to do if you have symptoms and when to seek medical advice.

“Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using disinfectants to clean surfaces will help stop infections from spreading.

“If you are unwell with diarrhoea and vomiting, 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.”

It was yesterday revealed a mysterious E. coli outbreak that swept across the UK last year and left one person dead was found to have probably come from minced beef.

Officials probed the outbreak, which also left dozens “severely ill” and found the meat was the probable cause.

The spate of severe gastrointestinal illnesses was first detected by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) surveillance systems in June 2023.

Officials were able to determine that the outbreak was being cause by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O183:H18 – a rare strain of E. coli that leaves sufferers with bloody diarrhoea, as well as tummy pain, fever and vomiting.

But how Brits were being contaminated with the bacteria in the first place has remained a mystery.

At the time, officials suggested hard cheese, strawberries cucumbers, peppers and watermelon could be the source.

As the STEC strain causing the illnesses is rarely seen in the UK and patients seemed to be experiencing severe symptoms, an incident management team meeting was convened.

A report published in the journal Microbial Genomics confirmed that sufferers likely picked the illness up from eating beef burgers or minced beef.