What to do if your water is contaminated with E. coli Authorities are on the hunt for a mystery “nationally distributed” food item they believe has triggered an outbreak of E.coli across the UK .
So far the surge in cases has left 113 people ill and hospitalised at least 37. Food safety officials say the rare Shiga toxigenic (STEC) variant of the diarrhoea-causing bug is “particularly nasty” and have urged the public to handle and cook food hygienically. Although the source has not yet been discovered, there are fears that the looming barbecue season, in which food can be undercooked, may fuel an even bigger outbreak.
Cases of the bug have been reported in England, Wales and Scotland. One case was also reported in Northern Ireland although experts believe the patient was infected in England. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said yesterday (June 6) that based on the “wide geographic spread” of cases, it is “most likely” that this outbreak is linked to a nationally distributed food item or multiple food items.
READ MORE UK hit by outbreak of infection that causes ‘severe bloody diarrhoea’ Health officials are searching for a food item thought to have caused a national outbreak of E.coli (Image: Getty Images) It is now working alongside the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland to try to pinpoint the source of the outbreak. There is “currently no evidence” linking the outbreak to open farms, drinking water or swimming in contaminate.