A MAP reveals the food poisoning hotspots across England and Wales as hundreds fall ill after mass recall of sandwiches. At least one person has died and 288 have been struck down with E. coli in an outbreak thought to have been spread by contaminated lettuce.
In June, Brits were warned not to eat a selection of wraps, sandwiches and salads from five major supermarkets after the nasty stomach bug landed dozens in hospital . UK Health Security Agency officials say the rate of infection now appears to be slowing down. Incident director Amy Douglas said: “We’re pleased that fewer cases have been reported but we still expect to see a few more cases linked to this outbreak as further samples are sent for testing.
” E.coli are common bacteria but sometimes cause illness, typically vomiting and diarrhoea . It can be caught by eating contaminated food, touching animals or people infected with the illness and playing or drinking contaminated water.
Most cases clear up on their own with good hydration and rest but serious infections may need hospital treatment. Fatalities are rare but it is possible for patients to suffer kidney damage or blood clotting, with young children, elderly people and those with weak immune systems at highest risk. Around one million people in the UK will get a bout of food poisoning each year.
A bacteria called campylobacter, found in raw chicken, causes the most cases - more than other food poisoning bugs E. coli, listeria and salmonella added together..
