Warning to parents over deadly E.coli outbreak 'mainly affecting children'

07 August 2023 , 23:35

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A warning is being given over a new outbreak of E.coli (Image: Getty Images)

A warning has been made to parents over an E-coli outbreak that appears to predominantly affect children and has seen one person die and six others hospitalised.

The UK Health Security Agency and the Food Standards Agency are reportedly trying to identify the cause of the outbreak of the Shiga-toxin producing E.coli 0183. There have been 24 cases identified in the UK from May 23 to July 2.

While the age range of people who have picked up the bug goes from a one-year-old to a person aged 74 it is affecting children most and those who are aged nine and under. So far the source of the infection is unknown with some of the people catching it saying they have consumed grated hard cheese. Others have also reportedly mentioned eating strawberries, cucumbers, peppers and watermelon.

It comes after a popular family adventure farm shut for five days due to an outbreak of the infection E.coli. Three people contracted the infection having recently visited Hobbledown, an attraction near Epsom, Surrey, so it voluntarily temporarily closed at the start of the school holidays. Specialists from the UKHSA and environmental health officers from Epsom and Ewell Borough Council have examined the cases of STEC (Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli) and are testing at the site.

In the new cases to be revealed, a death has been linked to this outbreak but it is unclear whether they died because of STEC or with it, reported Food Safety News. E.coli 0183 is a very rare strain of the infection with just 15 reported cases since 2016 in the UK.

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Amy Douglas, UKHSA incident director, said: “The UKHSA has identified an outbreak of a rare form of STEC, with most cases seen in children. The outbreak’s source has not yet been identified, but we are working with partners, including the Food Standards Agency, to investigate.

“Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water and ensuring to help young children with handwashing is the best way to stop the bug spreading. Children under five should not attend school/nursery/group childcare until they have been free of sickness or diarrhoea for two days. Visits to hospitals or care home settings should be avoided if you are feeling unwell.”

Symptoms of E.coli include stomach cramps and bloody diarrhoea while it spreads through contaminated food, contact with animals or from one infected person to another.

Tim Hanlon