The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) published the Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) data in England during 2024 on 30th July 2025 shown in the link below. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/escherichia-coli-e-coli-o157-annual-totals/shiga-toxin-producing-escherichia-coli-stec-data-2024

The UKHSA reported 7 Deaths and 58 cases of Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS) a serious and life-threatening condition predominantly affecting the kidneys from Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in 2024.

The continuing rise in STEC cases overall in the last few years should be a serious concern yet there appears to be no government plans on how they can reduce the number of cases by the UKHSA, Food Standards Agency (FSA) or other government departments.

This data states “The increasing notifications of non-O157 STEC has led to the need to prioritise the public health actions due to insufficient resources to follow up all cases”. 

The data also states the following “Overall, 2,544 cultured-confirmed cases of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) were reported in England during 2024, 564 were STEC O157 and 1,980 were STEC non-O157. This is an increase of 26.1% compared to 2023”.

A total of 2,762 cases of STEC non-O157 were reported in England in 2024 (including 1,980 culture-confirmed cases and 782 faecal specimens positive for stx genes on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) but culture-negative), an increase of 22.2% compared to 2023.

As the main foodborne type illnesses are generally on the rise in the UK as previously reported on this website, maybe it’s about time that the responsible government departments looked at how their policy decisions could be impacting on the increase in illness.