More than 100 people have become ill with E. coli in the UK over the past two weeks with 37 people in hospital, as experts believe the cases are related to a nationally distributed food item.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it has carried out tests of the samples which suggest all of the 113 cases since 25 May are “part of a single outbreak”.
The number of confirmed cases is “expected to rise as further samples undergo whole genome sequencing”, the agency said.
The cases are spread out widely, making it likely they stem from a contaminated batch of product that people can buy around England.
The cases range in age from two years old to 79, with the majority of the infections in young adults.
Communicable disease expert Dr Bharat Pankhania, a senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter Medical School, spoke to i about how to spot E. coli symptoms, what to do if you have them, and how to avoid picking up the infection.
What are the symptoms of an E.coli infection?
Symptoms of an E. coli infection include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and occasionally a fever. About half of people with the infection will have bloody diarrhoea.
Dr Pankhania said an infection can start with very mild abdominal symptoms, such as a rumbling tummy.
“In some people it progresses to diarrhoea, and having progressed to diarrhoea you can have an associated fever,” he said.
“Then if you have diarrhoea, it can become bloody diarrhoea. Then there are some serious danger signs.
“Not everyone progresses to this stage, but you can get haemolytic uraemic syndrome.
“This is pretty serious in that it presents with signs your kidneys are not functioning very well – swelling of your legs, patches on your legs and generally feeling not very well.”
“The reason we are concerned about this type of E. coli is in some people it can precipitate kidney failure and they may need temporary dialysis”, Dr Pankhania added. “We do have good facilities in the UK to deal with this, but it can kill you.”
People usually notice E. coli infection symptoms three to four days after they have been infected, but symptoms can start any time between one and 14 days afterwards.
The symptoms can last up to two weeks.
Who is most at risk?
Young children and the elderly are the groups most at risk from the E. coli infection, Dr Pankhania explained.
“People at the extremes of age are the most vulnerable, the very young and the very old and people who have health issues,” he said.
If you have a child under five years of age who has had E. coli, or lives with someone who has, you should talk to your GP about when it is safe for your child to return to school or nursery.
People who have weakened immune systems are also more likely to become ill from ingesting E. coli.
There is no specific treatment for an E. coli infection, and those affected can usually be cared for at home. Most people will get better without medical treatment.
What should you do if you think you have an E.coli infection?
E. coli is spread orally from faecal matter, meaning it cannot be picked up from coughs and sneezes.
“It is spread by putting something in your mouth that has this bacteria on it – a food item, a drink or dirty hands”, said Dr Pankhania.
There are five key things he recommends you should do it you think you have picked up E. coli:
- Maintain good oral hydration and drink oral rehydration salts, which you can get from a pharmacy.
- Let your GP know that you may have it.
- Do not create other cases – up your personal hygiene, washing hands thoroughly.
- If you are a food handler there are rules and regulations in place about when you can return to work.
- Keep young children out of school settings until the infection has passed.
What can you do to avoid picking up an E.coli infection?
Washing your hands after handling uncooked meat and avoiding cross contamination with other food stuffs is key to avoid picking up E. coli.
Food should be cooked properly and once cooked kept separate from uncooked food, particularly raw meat.
Dr Pankhania said: “We know that barbecue season is a big danger with cooked meat, especially of the beef variety, beef burgers and things like that – when they are burnt on the outside and uncooked on the inside.
“After handling uncooked meat, wash your hands. Avoid cross-contamination with salads and other foods.”
Which foods can be high risk for E.coli?
Beef can be a significant danger, Dr Pankhania explained, because E. coli is common in cattle.
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“Meat products, especially beef, are high risk,” he told i.
He added that any salad crops sprayed with water containing sewage may also be contaminated, and it is hard to wash the bacteria off.
“The best course of action is always prevention – and that means best practice at farms and abattoirs”, he explained.
Unpasteurised milk can also carry a significant risk of E. coli, as the bacteria on a cow’s udder or on milking equipment can get into raw milk.
You may also be exposed to E. coli from contaminated water, such as by swallowing a mouthful of contaminated pool water or through using a rural water supply.
