One person died from an infection with Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC) linked to a type of lettuce used in sandwich products.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it identified two individuals in England who died within 28 days of infection with STEC outbreak strain, whilst a further 19 associated cases have been confirmed. Both individuals who died in May were said to have underlying medical health issues. UKHSA has confirmed total cases of STEC stand at 275 in the UK, with 182 in England, 58 in Scotland, 31 in Wales and four in Northern Ireland (evidence suggests they acquired their infection in England).

Earlier in the month major supermarkets recalled sandwich and wrap products because of concerns about E.coli. Whilst no E.coli was detected, the products were recalled as a precaution. The agency has has reported one person died from an infection with Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC) linked to a type of lettuce used in sandwich products.
Supermarkets have recalled sandwich products amid worried about E.coli outbreak (
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Head of incidents at the Food Standards Agency (FSA), Darren Whitby, said the lettuce is the “likely cause” of the E.coli outbreak. Darren said: “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. 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.”

Amy Douglas, Incident Director at UKHSA, said: “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 diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever. 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 NHS.UK guidance on when to seek help and the steps you can take to avoid further spread to family and friends." She also advised to make sure to wash your hands with disinfectant soap and warm water which will help stop the spread of infection.

Things you can do to prevent catching and spreading E.coli

  • wash your hands thoroughly with soap in running water and dry them completely – use liquid soap and warm water if you can
  • everyone must wash their hands after contact with an infected person, particularly after handling their clothes or bedding
  • always wash your hands after going to the toilet or changing babies’ nappies, and before preparing or serving food or eating meals
  • if you’ve been infected, avoid cooking or preparing food until 48 hours after your symptoms have cleared up
  • wash soiled clothing and bed linen separately from other clothes in a washing machine at the highest temperature possible (for example 60°C)
  • wipe down the outside of the washing machine with hot water and detergent after any heavily soiled load
  • clean toilet seats, toilet flush handles, basin taps, surfaces and toilet door handles at least daily, preferably more often, using hot water and detergent
  • disinfection sprays and wipes or alcohol-based wipes may be used on toilet seats and other surfaces, but only after any visible soiling has been removed
  • thick household bleach is highly effective – dilute one part bleach to every 10 parts water for soiled surfaces and one part bleach to every 100 parts water for other hard surfaces
  • ideally, use heavy-duty domestic rubber gloves and disposable cloths for cleaning
  • dispose of cloths by placing them in a plastic bag, sealing the neck and placing in household waste
  • thoroughly wash rubber gloves in hot water and detergent after use, then rinse and allow to dry
  • deal with any spillage of faeces immediately – clean the soiled area with hot water and detergent using heavy-duty domestic rubber gloves then clean gloves and wash hands thoroughly