Mystery E.coli outbreak that left 37 in hospital and more than 100 sick was ‘likely caused by ready-to-eat dairy’

A READY-to-eat food containing dairy is likely to be behind a UK-wide E. coli outbreak, an expert warns. At least 37 people have been admitted to hospital and 113 cases confirmed between May 25 and June 4, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Officials believe the source to be a "nationally distributed food item", but have not given any further information. Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at the University of Aberdeen, reckons it isn't something that needs to be cooked as it's unlikely so many people would make the same mistake. He told the Mail on Sunday : "It would be much more likely to be foods that are not going to be cooked before they are consumed.

"We've had outbreaks associated with dairy products, for example. "Cheese is a classic, and we've had ice cream before. There's a whole range - any dairy products that are being processed.

" Cheese made from unpasteurised milk is the most likely culprit, he added. All the cases recorded in the outbreak involve Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O145 (STEC), with 81 in England , 18 in Wales , 13 in Scotland and one person in Northern Ireland who believes they fell ill in England.

Those affected range in age from two to 79, with the majority of cases in young adults. Numbers are expected to rise. Owing to the "wide geographic spread of cases", the UKHSA believes the outbreak is linked to a nationally distributed food item or multiple food items.

The UKHSA said it is working with public health agenc.