UK: +44 1379 658 721
Ireland: +353 89 221 3723
USA: +1 754 252 3536
Middle East - N. Africa: + 971 52 873 4738
Australia: +61 3 9310 5259
There’s been another deadly outbreak of E. Coli in the UK. According to Food safety News, one person has died in the latest ongoing E. coli outbreak, currently being investigated by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to pin down the source.
So far we’ve seen a total of 24 UK cases: 19 in England, 2 in Northern Ireland, 2 in Scotland, and 1 in Wales since May 2023. The start dates for people’s infections range from late May to 2nd July 2023.
People have been reporting serious symptoms like bloody diarrhoea, eight went to hospital, and six of the eight were kept in hospital. The age of the people varies from babies to the elderly, with the worst-affected group being children aged nine or less. One person ended up with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome and there’s been one death.
So far officials haven’t found the origin despite detailed epidemiological investigations. Suspect foods, however, include grated hard cheese, strawberries, cucumbers, peppers, and watermelon.
About E. Coli O183
This kind of E. Coli, called E. coli O183, is extremely rare. We’ve only seen 15 UK cases since 2016. It can be spread via direct or indirect contact with animals or environments where animals live, through contaminated food or water, or person-to-person.
How to keep safe from E. Coli
Washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water is the most reliable way to stop E. Coli from spreading. If your child catches it, you’ll need to keep them at home until they’ve been free from sickness and diarrhoea for two days. If you’re not feeling well, it’s important to avoid visiting a hospital or a care home.
E. Coli can look like a lot of other illnesses, so you’ll need a special test from your doctor to confirm whether you have it. Watch out for severe stomach cramps and often-bloody diarrhoea, which can be accompanied by a fever. You should feel better in 5-7 days but complications are experienced by 5-10% of people.
Our units kill E. Coli fast and efficiently!
In the foodservice sector? Run a family attraction with animals? Maybe you’re just keen to keep people safe on your premises? Our UCV units make short work of killing E. Coli, damaging the bacterium’s DNA and RNA so it can’t reproduce. The tech is affordable, efficient, chemical-free, safe, and comes with virtually no maintenance. If that sounds like a sensible business move, let’s talk.