One person in England has died amid the outbreak of a highly contagious disease that causes “severe” bloody diarrhoea, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has revealed. The death has been linked to the ongoing outbreak of E.coli that is thought to have originated in salad leaves.
In an update, the UKHSA said that in total two people in England have died within 28 days of being infected with the current strain.
However, information from clinicians suggests “one of these deaths is likely linked to their STEC infection”.
STEC refers to shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), which is thought to have led to almost 300 illnessed in the UK this year.
Both individuals had underlying medical conditions and they both died in May.
So far this year, the UKHSA has confirmed 275 cases of STEC, an infection that causes “severe” bloody diarrhoea, cramps and vomiting.
And based on information on 249 of the cases, 49 percent of affected people were hospitalised.
The most recent break down of infections is as follows:
- 182 in England
- 58 in Scotland
- 31 in Wales
- Four in Northern Ireland (but evidence suggests that they acquired their infection in England).
A statement from the UKHSA said: “Through surveillance, UKHSA has identified two 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.”
As reported, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) had linked the outbreak to salad leaves.
More than 60 food products such as sandwiches, wraps and salads were pulled from shelves as a result.
Food companies Samworth Brothers Manton Wood, Greencore Group and THIS! issued a “precautionary” recall of certain foods.
In a response to Express.co.uk, the FSA said it was “confident” the source of the outbreak was linked to lettuce leaves.
However, they added that it is “too early to determine the outbreak of the cause”, and that this was part of a “complex and ongoing” investigation.