E.coli outbreak: what is E.coli, 6 signs and symptoms to watch out for and how to avoid an infection

• E.coli outbreak in the UK linked to death of one person
• There are currently 275 cases according to UKHSA
• The E.coli outbreak is believed to be caused by lettuce from supermarket sandwiches, salads and wraps
• We’ve outlined six E.coli signs and symptoms that you shouldn’t ignore

An E.coli outbreak in the UK has been linked to the death of one person, with the UK Health Standards Agency (UKHSA), confirming 275 cases so far.

The outbreak is believed to have been caused by lettuce from supermarket sandwiches, salads and wraps, with the Food Standards Agency issuing urgent recalls for affected items earlier in June.

E.coli can pose an increased risk to young children, the elderly or those with weakened immune systems. We’ve outlined six E.coli symptoms you can’t ignore and when to seek medical help.

What is E.coli?

E.coli, which is short for Escherichia coli, are bacteria that are found in many places including the environment, foods, water, and the lower intestines of people and animals.

Most E.coli do not cause harm and are a healthy part of our intestine tract, helping to digest food and protect us from germs. However, some strains of E.coli can make people sick causing diarrhoea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia or even sepsis.

People get infected when they ingest E.coli either through food, water or contact with infected animals or people. Infections can become serious, especially if you are infected with the Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC) strain, which can result in severe food poisoning. Those who are at an increased risk according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) include:

• Children younger than 5
• Adults 65 and older
• People with weakened immune systems
• International travellers

How many E.coli cases are there in the UK?

As of June 27, there are 275 confirmed E.coli cases in the UK, with currently all seeing an onset of symptoms before June 4. Based on information from 249 cases, 49% of those infected were admitted to hospital.

E.coli cases in the UK:

• England - 182
• Scotland - 58
• Wales - 31
• Northern Ireland - 4 (evidence suggests infection was picked up in England)

What are the signs and symptoms of E.coli?

E.coli symptoms usually include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and occasionally a fever, with about half of people experiencing bloody diarrhoea according to NHS Inform. Symptoms tend to develop three to four days after infection, but can start any time between one and 14 days after you have been infected.

Amy Douglas, Incident Director at UKHSA, has outlined some of the key symptoms of a STEC E.coli infection to look out for following the recent outbreak.

Douglas said: “Symptoms of infections with STEC include severe and sometimes bloody diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever. While diarrhoea and vomiting can have a range of causes, there are simple steps you can take to reduce your risk and the risk of infecting others.”

You are advised to seek medical advice for an E.coli infection if:

• it’s particularly frequent or severe
• it lasts for more than 7 days
• experience a severe or continuous stomach ache
• experience weight loss
• you have passed a large amount of very watery diarrhoea
• you have signs of dehydration – including drowsiness, peeing less than usual, and feeling lightheaded or dizzy

What caused the E.coli outbreak?

Lettuce from supermarket sandwiches, salads and wraps are believed to be the cause of the E.coli outbreak. These products have now been recalled by the Food Standards Agency.

Darren Whitby, Head of Incidents at the FSA explained: “Earlier this month, we confirmed that several sandwich manufacturers had taken precautionary action to withdraw and recall various sandwiches, wraps, subs and rolls after food chain and epidemiological links enabled us to narrow down a wide range of foods to a type of lettuce used in sandwich products as the likely cause of the outbreak.”

How can I prevent getting infected with E.coli?

There are ways you can reduce your risk of getting an E.coli infection including:

• regularly washing your hands with soap and warm water
• washing your hands after contact with an infected person, their clothes or bedding
• always wash your hands after using the bathroom, changing babies’ nappies and before preparing, serving or eating food
• if you are infected avoid preparing food until 48 hours after your symptoms have cleared
• wash infected clothing and bedding separately and at the highest washing machine temperature
• clean surfaces throughout your home including door handles, toilet seats, taps and surfaces with hot water and detergent

You can learn more about the signs and symptoms of food poisoning and when to seek medical help at NHS.UK.