SCIENTISTS are "confident" they've found the source of a nasty E. Coli outbreak that left over 200 people sick and at least 67 hospitalised. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) told The Sun it's "confident" that lettuce leaves are the cause of the food-borne bug that's swept the UK.
But it said it was "too early to determine" how the greens may have become contaminated. The FSA has not revealed whether the lettuce came from a UK-based farm or was imported from abroad. But according to the latest figures concerning the outbreak, 211 people are confirmed to have been infected with E.
coli bacteria and at least 67 people have required hospital treatment. Most cases - 147 - were reported in England , but 35 were detected in Scotland , 27 in Wales and two in Northern Ireland , though evidence suggests these last two infections were picked up while visiting England. All the cases were caused by a strain of the bacteria called called Shiga toxin-producing E.
coli O145 (STEC), which can leave sufferers with severe and sometimes bloody diarrhoea, tummy pain and fever. Over 60 sandwiches, salads and wraps sold major UK supermarkets and chains were pulled from shelves as a "precautionary measure" over fears they might be contaminated with the bacteria. Affected retailers include Sainsbury's , Asda , Aldi , Morrisons , Co-op , and retail pharmacy chain Boots .
E. Coli was not detected in the recalled products, but people who'd bought them were warned not to eat them and return them to stores.