The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) stated in their press release of today 27th June 2024:

"As of 25 June, there have been a further 19 cases associated with the recent outbreak of STEC O145 since the last update a week ago, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 275 in the UK. All currently confirmed cases had symptom onset dates before 4 June. Although case reporting rates are declining, we expect to see more cases linked to this outbreak as further samples are referred to us from NHS laboratories and whole genome sequencing is conducted".

“Based on information from 249 cases to date, 49% were admitted to hospital”.This means there were 122 people hospitalised. I would much prefer the UKHSA gave numbers rather than percentages in these instances as each case represents a human being.

“Through surveillance, UKHSA has identified 2 individuals in England who died within 28 days of infection with the STEC outbreak strain. Based on the information available from health service clinicians one of these deaths is likely linked to their STEC infection. Both individuals had underlying medical conditions. The deaths occurred in May”.

We are saddened, to hear of these deaths. The most vulnerable groups to any stain/type of STEC are children, the elderly, pregnant women and those whose immune systems are comprised e.g. having treatment for cancer. However, you can suffer at any age. 

This is why it is important not to let it into the food chain and the environment. Also, if this outbreak is from salad leaves (Lettuce) it appears we have learned little from the previous outbreak from the same cause (salad leaves/lettuce) in 2022 where there were 259 confirmed cases.

In our opinion in order to get into salad leaves, the land they were grown on or property they were stored in, must have been contaminated and or the water supply contaminated in some form. 

Please note it can be difficult to wash or clean salad leaves/lettuce of STEC in the domestic environment. 

Link below to the UKHSA press release of today.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/e-coli-advice-issued-amid-rise-in-cases

We also note that the Food Standards Agency have been a little quiet about this outbreak on its website apart from the recalls of the sandwiches and wraps etc.

We further note what the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health has said in relation to this outbreak in the link below:

“Without sufficient [environmental health] staffing and resources, our ability to prevent such outbreaks is severely compromised.” 

https://www.cieh.org/ehn/food-safety-integrity/2024/june/sandwich-recall-amid-potential-e-coli-contamination/