There have been 259 confirmed cases in the UK with sample dates ranging from late August to the end of October, although most people fell ill in August and early September.
It is the largest E. coli outbreak since Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) started to be used in 2014, according to UKHSA.
Food Standards Scotland (FSS), the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Food Standards Agency (FSA) are investigating the outbreak.
The number of patients is up from 192 in September when health officials said there had been no deaths and no reported cases of the hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS is a type of kidney failure associated with E. coli infections that can result in lifelong, serious health problems and death.
Some patients have been interviewed to try to find the source of the infection. Investigations suggest UK-produced lettuce and salad leaves may be implicated but this has yet to be confirmed.
Dr. Lesley Larkin, head of surveillance, gastrointestinal infections, and food safety at UKHSA, said the increase in reports was driven by a particular strain of E. coli O157.
Earlier this year, a STEC O103 outbreak with 11 cases was associated with raw milk cheese from a dairy farm in the East of England, and a STEC O145 outbreak with 10 patients was linked to milk products from a farm in North West England.
‘Making sure you wash your hands with soap and water is the best way to stop this bug from spreading. When preparing food make sure you thoroughly wash salad, fruit, and vegetables and follow all the safe cooking instructions for meat,’ Dr. Lesly advised.
Recalled that more than 30 people were part of an E. coli outbreak in the United Kingdom linked to salad in sandwiches in 2019, according to a study.
