One dead and 86 people in hospital after supermarket sandwich E coli outbreak

An individual has tragically passed away within England following an E coli outbreak - already affecting 275 people - related to supermarket sandwiches.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) disclosed that two victims in England who had died within a month of infection due to shiga toxin-producing E coli (Stec).

Reportedly, as of June 25, an additional 19 cases of Stec have been identified, henceforth raising the overall tally in the UK to 275. In light of their connection to this unfortunate outbreak, major supermarkets and multiple food producers have recalled a number of sandwiches, wraps, and salad assortments.

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Despite the declining rate of new cases reported, the UKHSA anticipates the discovery of more incidents following the arrival of further samples from NHS laboratories. A breakdown reveals a total of 182 cases within England, 58 in Scotland, 31 in Wales, and four within Northern Ireland. The infections within Northern Ireland are believed to have possibly originated in England, reports the Mirror.

Since the commencement of this outbreak, at least 122 victims were admitted to hospitals for treatment. It was reported that the deceased patient, who died back in May, had substantial underlying health complications, according to the agency.

In response to these developments, Amy Douglas, Incident Director at UKHSA, shared in her statement: "We're pleased that fewer cases have been reported, however, we still expect to see a few more cases linked to this outbreak as further samples are referred to us for testing."

"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.

"Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using disinfectants to clean surfaces will help stop any further spread of infection."

"If you are unwell, you should not prepare food for others while unwell and avoid visiting people in hospitals or care homes to avoid passing on the infection in these settings. Do not return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped. If you are concerned about your symptoms, follow http://NHS.UK guidance on when to seek help and the steps you can take to avoid further spread to family and friends."

E coli is a diverse group of bacteria that generally reside harmlessly within the intestines of both humans and animals, yet certain strains produce toxins leading to serious illness, such as Stec. Several food manufacturers have issued product recalls on the heels of this outbreak, acting out of precautionary measures.

Darren Whitby, Head of Incidents at the Food Standards Agency, stated: "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."

He continued: "This remains a complex investigation and we continue to work with the relevant businesses and the local authorities to ensure necessary steps are being taken to protect consumers. Although we are confident in the likely source of the outbreak being linked to lettuce, work continues to confirm this and identify the root cause of the outbreak with the growers, suppliers and manufacturers so that actions can be taken to prevent a re-occurrence".