News Desk

There are 192 genetically linked cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O157 have been reported in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales since the beginning of September 2022.. Although adults make up the majority of the sick, the occurrence has not been associated with any fatalities. Public health officials in the United Kingdom are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157 that has sickened almost 200 people in a month. Patients are being questioned to help identify the infection vehicle even though there is no known cause for the spike in infections. Additionally, no cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) have been documented. HUS is a form of kidney failure brought on by E. coli infections that can be fatal .or cause major, lifelong health issues.

The majority of people sick are adults but there have been no deaths linked to the incident.

No source for the rise in infections has yet been identified but patients are being interviewed to help find the vehicle of infection.

Although many forms of E. coli are harmless and can help the breakdown of food, some can cause serious food poisoning such as E. coli O157.

Vero cytotoxin E. coli (VTEC) O157 produces a toxin which is able to rupture and destroy red blood cells. The destruction of the cells can lead to a serious condition called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) and kidney failure.

According to Dr. Lesley Larkin, director of surveillance, gastroenteritis, and food safety at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), there has been an increase in E. coli cases recently that have been reported to public health surveillance systems. “The most recent data shows early signs of a recovery to predicted levels for this time of year, but we are still constantly monitoring the situation,” the statement continued. We are looking into possible causes alongside public health and food safety experts in the UK and Ireland after whole genome sequencing revealed that a specific strain of STEC O157 that has produced an outbreak is what is causing the rise in reports, she added.

Consumer Advice to Prevent E coli

• Know your chances of getting food poisoning. People with higher chances for foodborne illness are pregnant women, newborns, children, older adults, and those with weak immune systems, such as people with cancer, diabetes, or HIV/AIDS.
• Practice proper hygiene, especially good handwashing
  • Wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and changing diapers.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly before and after preparing or eating food.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with animals or their environments (at farms, petting zoos, fairs, even your own backyard).
  • Wash your hands thoroughly before preparing and feeding bottles or foods to an infant or toddler, before touching an infant or toddler’s mouth, and before touching pacifiers or other things that go into an infant or toddler’s mouth.
  • Keep all objects that enter infants’ and toddlers’ mouths (such as pacifiers and teethers) clean.
  • If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol (check the product label to be sure). These alcohol-based products can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but they are not a substitute for washing with soap and running water.
• Wash fruits and vegetables well under running water, unless the package says the contents have already been washed.
• Cook meats thoroughly:
  • To kill harmful germs, cook beef steaks and roasts to an internal temperature of at least 145°F (62.6˚C) and allow to rest for 3 minutes after you remove the meat from the grill or stove.
  • Cook ground beef and pork to a minimum internal temperature of 160°F (70˚C).
  • Always use a food thermometer to check that the meat has reached a  safe internal temperature because you can’t tell whether meat is safely cooked by looking at its color.
• Don’t cause cross-contamination in food preparation areas. Thoroughly wash hands, counters, cutting boards, and utensils after they touch raw meat.
• Avoid  raw milk, unpasteurized dairy products and unpasteurized fruit juices ( such as fresh apple cider)

For more about Ecoli watch this video by Food Standard Agency (UK )

For more information to prevent E coli visit the food standard agency website

– https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/e-coli

Escherichia coli is a species of bacteria that may be discovered in both human and animal intestines. Escherichia coli O157 was first identified as a human pathogen in 1982. Although many E. coli strains are safe for humans to consume, some of them can be fatal. A type of E. coli known as O157 is responsible for the majority of foodborne disease cases. Red blood cells can be ruptured and destroyed by a toxin produced by the Vero cytotoxin E. coli (VTEC) O157 strain. 

About E. coli Infections:

Anyone who has experienced E. coli infection symptoms should get medical help and inform their doctor that they may have food poisoning. To detect infections, which might mimic other ailments, specific testing is needed.

Each person experiences E. coli infections differently, but common symptoms include severe stomach pains and frequent, bloody diarrhea. Additionally, some patients may be feverish. In five to seven days, the majority of patients are well again. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, other people may experience serious or life-threatening symptoms and complications (CDC). Meats that are served uncooked or undercooked frequently spread E. coli O157. Other contaminated items, like vegetables and salads, water, or unpasteurized milk, might also spread it. Additionally, you can contract it through direct human touch.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially fatal kidney failure consequence associated with E. coli infections, develops in about 5 to 10% of patients with E. coli infections (HUS). HUS symptoms include pallor, little unexplained bruises ness bleeding, fever, abdominal pain, extreme fatigue, and decreased frequency of urine. Many HUS patients recover in a matter of weeks, but some pass away or sustain fatal damage. Although this disorder can affect persons of any age, it is most prevalent in children under the age of five due to their underdeveloped immune systems, older adults due to their immune systems degrading, and individuals with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients.

People with HUS symptoms need to get emergency medical help right once. Because HUS can result in more serious and persistent issues such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, brain damage, and neurologic issues, patients with the illness are likely to be hospitalized.

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