Urgent warning over mystery E. coli outbreak ‘mainly affecting children’ as one Brit dies and six hospitalised

ONE person has died and six hospitalised as a mysterious E. coli outbreak sweeps across the UK.

The very rare strain of the diarrhoea-causing bug appears to be predominantly affecting children.

UK health officials are racing to find the source of the outbreak, which is believed to have begun in spring 2023.

Patients reported eating grated hard cheese before being falling ill, reports suggest.

Others mentioned having strawberries, cucumbers, peppers and watermelon.

E. coli is a common food poisoning bug, often caught from contaminated water or food.

Most strains are harmless and cause unpleasant symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea and tummy pain that only lasts a few days.

But in people with weaker immune systems, like the young, elderly and those with underlying medical conditions, the bug is potentially fatal.

It comes as a family adventure park, Hobbledown, in Surrey, was forced to close after a separate E. coli outbreak caused by a different form of the bug left four children ill.

Britain's ongoing outbreak is caused by shiga toxin-producing E coli O183 (STEC).

It's a very rare strain of E. coli, which leaves sufferers with bloody diarrhoea.

In the UK, only 15 cases had been reported between 2015 and May 2023.

Like other versions of the bug, it can be harmless, but in some cases can lead to a serious, life-threatening disease called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which causes a person's kidneys to fail.

Since May, there have been 25 cases of the bug, of which 19 were in England, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

One person has died and six have been hospitalised.

Although the health body did not reveal the ages of the patients, it said the "majority of cases seen in children".

It is now working with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to investigate the source of the outbreak.

Amy Douglas, UKHSA's incident director, said: "The outbreak’s source has not yet been identified. But we are working with partners to investigate.

"Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water and ensuring to help young children with hand washing is the best way to stop the bug spreading. 

"Children under five shouldn't 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."

Rajwinder Ubhi, of the FSA, said: "Whilst multi-agency investigations continue, it’s important to follow our usual food hygiene advice to limit the spread of STEC, to help avoid cross-contamination and risk of illness including thoroughly cooking meat and meat products like burgers and sausages, and washing fruit and vegetables before eating them."