A GP has shed light on how to dodge a potentially severe E. coli infection after reports surfaced that 113 individuals have been struck ill. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), in collaboration with public health bodies across Scotland , Northern Ireland, and Wales, is probing a spike in cases of Shiga toxin-producing E.
coli (STEC). The exact origin of the outbreak remains unclear, but it has affected 81 people in England, 18 in Wales, and 13 in Scotland. The UKHSA has indicated that the outbreak likely stems from a food item or items distributed nationally.
Speaking on GB News, NHS GP Dr David Lloyd offered advice on avoiding harmful E. coli in food, noting the difficulty in pinpointing whether fresh or packaged foods are to blame. He referenced past health warnings, emphasizing the importance of hygiene: "We're all used nowadays to those instant salad packs, aren't we which are all nicely cut up for us and the warning on the front, which is 'please wash it'.
" Dr Lloyd advised: "I think that those are the sorts of things one should do. One shouldn't just take a packet of uncooked food without making sure it's thoroughly washed before you use it." Dr Lloyd highlighted the dangers of various food outbreaks, stating: "So certainly there have been lettuce outbreaks.
There have been ground beef outbreaks. And as I say, there's very odd Fenugreek sprout outbreak, all of which have killed people in the past." He also noted that a key symptom to watch for is blood in the stool, .