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Public health alert over E.coli 0157 outbreak (4 July 2016)

Date: 04/07/2016
Duncan Lewis, Personal Injury Solicitors, Public health alert over E.coli 0157 outbreak

Public Health England (PHE) is warning consumers about the importance of good hygiene and food preparation practice as they continue to investigate an outbreak of E.coli 0157.

The particular strain involved in the outbreak has been identified as phage type (PT) 34 – and the outbreak E.coli may be associated with eating leafy salad, says PHE.

To date, a total of 84 cases to 1 July 2016 of this strain of E.coli have been identified – including 77 cases in England, five cases in Wales, one case in the Channel Islands and one case in Scotland.

The majority of cases were confirmed in the southwest of England.

PHE has been working to establish the cause of the outbreak – and has identified that several of the affected individuals ate salad items prior to becoming unwell, although no individual supplier has been identified as the source.

PHE is now reminding people to maintain good hygiene and food preparation practices in response to the current outbreak.

E.coli 0157 infection can cause a range of symptoms, from mild diarrhoea to bloody diarrhoea, with severe abdominal pain.

On rare occasions, it can also cause more serious medical conditions and can be caught by eating infected food or by contact with infected animals.

The bacterial infection can also be passed from an infected individual to another person if hand and toilet hygiene is poor.

Director of PHE’s field epidemiology service, Dr Isabel Oliver, said:

“PHE has put in place heightened surveillance for this strain of E.coli and is and carefully monitoring the reporting of cases across the entire country.

“To assist with this investigation, we have convened a national outbreak control team to identify the source of infection – and to ensure all necessary control measures are put in place.

“We continue to stress the importance of good hand and food hygiene practices at all times – it is vital to wash hands thoroughly using soap and water after using the toilet, before and after handling food, and after contact with any animal and pets, including farm animals.

“Small children should also be supervised when washing their hands.

“We also urge people to remove any loose soil before storing vegetables – and thoroughly wash all vegetables, fruit and salad items that will be eaten raw.

“These measures may reduce the risk of infection from any E.coli contaminated vegetables, fruit and salad – but will not eliminate any risk of infection completely.

“PHE will work alongside the Food Standards Agency to provide any further necessary public health advice as investigations continue.”

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – No win no fee Food Poisoning Claims

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise those who contract food poisoning on package holidays or at home – and which as been caused by poor food preparation or hygiene breaches – on how to make a no win no fee claim for compensation, including claims involving:

• Amoebic dysentery
• Campylobacter
• E.coli
• Giardiosis
• Listeria
• Salmonella
• Shigella.

Food poisoning or holiday claims have to be made within three years of diagnosis of illness – children can make food poisoning compensation claims up to the age of 21.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Food Poisoning Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 0333 772 0409.


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