One person dead from E coli and 120 hospitalised, says UK Health Security Agency

A single individual has passed away and over 120 people, including young children as young as six years old, are in the hospital in the UK due to an E coli outbreak connected to lettuce.

According to a report from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), two individuals in England passed away within a month of being infected with shiga toxin-producing E coli (Stec). This information was disclosed during a briefing on Thursday.

According to health professionals, it is believed that one of the deaths was caused by their Stec infection. Both individuals had other health problems. These deaths happened in May, as stated by the agency.

According to the latest update on the UKHSA website, there have been 19 new cases of Stec reported on 25 June. This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 275 in the UK.

In England, there have been 182 reported cases, while Scotland has seen 58 cases, Wales has reported 31 cases, and Northern Ireland has confirmed four cases. All individuals displayed symptoms prior to June 4th.

Many companies that make food have taken back sandwiches, wraps, and salads sold in large grocery stores and stores because they are worried they may be connected to the spread of illness. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has mentioned before that the lettuce used in these products is believed to be the main cause of the illness.

According to information from 249 cases, UKHSA reported that 49% of those impacted needed to be taken to the hospital. This translates to a minimum of 122 individuals receiving medical care since the outbreak began. The Guardian has learned that both children as young as six and adults as old as 85 were included in those who required hospitalization.

The people affected include an 11-year-old girl from the northwest who got very sick and had to go to the hospital after eating a chicken salad sandwich from a supermarket's own brand.

She had to undergo dialysis for nearly three weeks due to developing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a medical condition linked to E. coli that can result in kidney failure and potentially death.

"Fortunately, she is now in a condition where she can go back home, but it's important to know that HUS is a severe illness that can lead to lasting harm to the kidneys and have long-term effects on individuals," mentioned Claire Glasgow from the law firm Fieldfisher, who is advocating for the family of the girl.

E coli is a varied collection of bacteria that usually do not cause harm and reside in the intestines of humans and animals. But there are some types that can produce harmful toxins like Stec, leading to severe illness in individuals.

Individuals with Stec infection may experience diarrhea, with approximately half of cases presenting with bloody stools. Additional symptoms may include abdominal cramps and a fever. Symptoms typically persist for up to two weeks in uncomplicated instances.

Certain individuals, especially young patients, could develop a severe and life-threatening illness known as haemolytic uremic syndrome, leading to kidney failure. A small number of adults may experience a similar condition called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).

Stec is commonly passed through consuming food that has been contaminated, but it can also be transmitted through intimate contact with someone who is infected. It can also spread through direct contact with an infected animal or the environment where the bacteria resides.

Amy Douglas, the director in charge of the UK Health Security Agency, mentioned that she anticipates an increase in cases connected to the outbreak as more samples are sent to the agency for testing.

Darren Whitby, who leads the response to emergencies at the FSA, mentioned: "At the beginning of the month, we announced that multiple companies making sandwiches had decided to remove and recall different types of sandwiches, wraps, subs, and rolls as a precaution. Through analyzing food chain and epidemiological connections, we were able to identify a specific type of lettuce in the sandwiches as the probable source of the outbreak."

This investigation is still complicated, and we are collaborating with the appropriate businesses and local authorities to make sure that all the necessary actions are being taken to safeguard consumers.

Even though we believe that the outbreak likely came from lettuce, we are still working to confirm this and find out the main reason behind it with the farmers, suppliers, and producers. This is so that we can take steps to prevent it from happening again.

Dr. Aidan Taylor, who teaches microbiology at the University of Reading, stated that the outbreak is a significant issue for public health.

He stated: "The current situation emphasizes the need for strong food safety procedures across the entire supply chain and underscores the importance of staying vigilant in both industry standards and consumer education."