Latest news with #O157
Scottish Sun
30-07-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Urgent warning after surge in deadly food poisonings – as health officials link outbreak to contaminated salad leaves
From symptoms to how to avoid it - find out everything you need to know about the infection below BUG BEAR Urgent warning after surge in deadly food poisonings – as health officials link outbreak to contaminated salad leaves HEALTH officials have warned of a rise in dangerous gut infections in England - and one major outbreak was linked to contaminated salad leaves. In severe cases, infections can lead to a serious, life-threatening condition. Advertisement 2 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) can cause a potentially deadly condition in severe cases Credit: Getty New figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed a 26 per cent rise in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections in 2024 when compared to 2023. Overall, 2,544 cases of STEC were confirmed last year, with 564 cases of STEC serotype O157 - the strain linked to severe illness. There were 1,980 cases of other STEC serotypes (non-0157), which have become increasingly common and are considered less dangerous. Typically, STEC bacteria causes gastroenteritis, with symptoms ranging from mild to bloody diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and dehydration. Advertisement But in severe cases, they can cause haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) - a potentially deadly condition that predominantly affects the kidneys. STEC bacteria are spread through contact with animals or their faeces, consuming contaminated food or water, and from person to person. Dr Gauri Godbole, Deputy Director, Gastrointestinal infections, Food Safety and One Health at UKHSA, said: "It's important for people to take steps to prevent infection. 'Rarely STEC can progress to cause kidney failure and life-threatening illness, particularly in young children and elderly. Advertisement "Please consult your GP or healthcare professional if you have blood in your stools or severe dehydration and continue to hydrate yourself.' The highest incidence of STEC cases in 2024 was in children aged one to four years. Food Standards Agency explains E Coli Experts said this may be explained by a combination of factors such as less time to build immunity to infection, less developed hygiene practices, a greater likelihood of parents seeking healthcare when young children are symptomatic, and potential exposure to risk factors such as contact with farm animals, particularly at petting farms. Travel-related cases increased by 60.5 per cent from 114 in 2023 to 183 in 2024 Advertisement The UKHSA said this increase may reflect changes in international travel patterns or improved ascertainment of travel history during investigations, although the underlying reasons remain uncertain. In 2024, there were seven deaths among STEC cases - two linked to STEC O157 and five to non-O157 strains. The UKHSA investigated five STEC outbreaks at the time, which accounted for 467 cases - 348 of them in England. All were caused by STEC non-O157. Advertisement 2 A source of one of the outbreaks was salad leaves Credit: Getty - Contributor The sources for three of these were contaminated beef, fresh fruit, and salad leaves. Non-O157 cases have increased nearly three times since 2019. The UKHSA suggested the rise may be due to diagnostic laboratories using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which has improved detection. Advertisement While non-O157 infections usually peak in autumn, O157 types peak in summer, so people have been advised to take care throughout the year. Natasha Smith, Director of Food Policy at the FSA, said: "Public safety is our highest priority. The FSA works closely with UKHSA and other partners to monitor and assess the latest foodborne disease data. "We are working together to understand the reasons behind the rise in STEC cases, as well as trends in other pathogens, to help us take the necessary action to protect public health. "We've launched a new food safety campaign to help people stay safe - find out more on Advertisement "We're also working with local authorities and industry to support businesses meet their legal responsibility to make sure food is safe. Consumers can further protect themselves by checking Food Hygiene Ratings on before eating out. 'When preparing food at home, people can reduce their risk of food poisoning by following good hygiene practices and by following advice on the 4Cs of food hygiene: chilling, cleaning, cooking, and avoiding cross-contamination.'
New York Post
04-06-2025
- General
- New York Post
Whole Foods ground beef may be tainted with E. coli, health officials warn
US agriculture officials are warning that ground beef sold at Whole Foods markets nationwide may be contaminated with potentially dangerous E. coli bacteria. Officials issued a public health alert for 1-pound, vacuum-packed packages of Organic Rancher beef, produced on May 22 and May 23, by NPC Processing Inc., of Shelburne, Vermont. The products have use-by dates of June 19 and June 20. The products have use-by dates of June 19 and June 20. AP The US Food Safety and Inspection Service did not request a recall because the products are no longer available for purchase. However, they may still be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers. The meat was produced in Australia or Uruguay and processed in the US. It was sent to distributors in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois and Maryland and then to Whole Foods stores nationwide. The problem was discovered when company officials notified FSIS that they had shipped beef products that tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, a type of bacteria that can cause serious illness. To date, no illnesses linked to the product have been reported, officials said. Consumers who have the product should throw it away or return it to the store. To date, no illnesses linked to the product have been reported, officials said. Consumers who have the product should throw it away or return it to the store. Gado via Getty Images E. coli bacteria can cause infections with symptoms that include dehydration, diarrhea and cramps. Most people recover within a week, but some people can become severely ill and develop a dangerous kidney condition. Children under age 5 and older adults are most at risk.
Hamilton Spectator
17-05-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
A deadly E. coli outbreak in Walkerton, Ont., changed everything 25 years ago
Bruce Davidson remembers the E. coli outbreak that ravaged his hometown 25 years ago as a 'strange dream.' The hospital in the small Ontario community of Walkerton usually wasn't busy but it suddenly got inundated with patients experiencing severe diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain. The first cases were reported on May 17, 2000. Soon, the township roughly 140 kilometres north of London, Ont., ran out of diarrhea medication, the emergency department overflowed and air ambulances came to take sick people to other hospitals. What turned out to be Canada's worst outbreak of E. coli O157 infections, caused by manure-tainted drinking water, ultimately killed seven people and sickened around 2,300. It was a 'strange dream where you're still you but nothing else is the same,' said Davidson. His own family fell ill and he later formed a citizens' advocacy group in response to the tragedy. Schools and restaurants were closed, he said, and streets that normally buzzed with children playing on warm spring days felt like a 'ghost town.' 'For the first bit, we were all in shock, but very, very quickly that started to change to anger,' Davidson said in a recent phone interview. He had heard about waterborne diseases in impoverished parts of the world, but said he never imagined experiencing that in Canada. The country had the technology, money and infrastructure needed for a safe water supply, 'and yet here we are killing people with drinking water,' he said. The health crisis caused by a mix of human negligence, lack of resources and natural factors caused countrywide outrage and triggered a public inquiry led by Ontario Justice Dennis O'Connor that lasted for nearly two years. It was determined that heavy rainfall between May 8 and May 12, 2000 had washed cattle manure from a nearby farm into a well. From there, deadly E. coli bacteria found its way to the municipal water system. The two brothers who managed the system — Stan and Frank Koebel — pleaded guilty to criminal charges in the case. The inquiry found that neither brother had the formal training to operate a public utility and water system, that they failed to properly chlorinate the water and that water safety records were falsified. The inquiry also found that Stan Koebel knew on May 17 that water was contaminated with E. coli but he did not disclose those test results for days. By the time a boil-water advisory was issued on May 21, it was too late. 'It was extremely tragic and even more tragic by the fact that the operators who didn't have proper training and didn't understand that groundwater could make people sick were suppressing the results of tests,' said Theresa McClenaghan, the executive director of the Canadian Environmental Law Association. McClenaghan, who represented Walkerton's residents during the inquiry, said had the brothers been transparent and told the public about the issue as soon as they knew, many would not become ill. 'But that went on for days and days that people were still drinking this highly contaminated water,' she said. McClenaghan said the inquiry didn't leave any stone unturned and in the end put out a series of recommendations that now serve as the foundation of water safety regulations, including the province's Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act. The tragedy led to fundamental legislative reforms aimed at strengthening drinking water safety norms, including water source protection, treatment standards, testing and reporting procedures. Despite the huge progress, access to safe drinking water is still a serious issue, especially in northern Ontario's First Nations communities. A report released by the Ontario's auditor general in March raised concerns about oversight of non-municipal water systems that include inadequate testing and monitoring and lack of compliance enforcement. Nearly three million Ontarians get their water from a non-municipal system. While 98 per cent of samples tested from these systems in the past decade have met the provincial drinking water standards, there are weaknesses that need to be addressed to ensure water safety, the report said. It said about 1.3 million people drink water from private wells, and 35 per cent of the samples taken from them between 2003 and 2022 tested positive for indicators of bacterial contamination. The report listed recommendations that include increasing testing and oversight, and raising awareness about the risks and availability of testing resources. 'As demonstrated by the Walkerton crisis, the consequences of Ontarians drinking unsafe water can be deadly,' auditor general Shelley Spence wrote. The Canadian Environmental Law Association and dozens of other organizations have written to the provincial government calling for a 'timely and transparent' implementation of Spence's recommendations. The mayor of Brockton, Ont., the municipality that includes Walkerton, said he is glad that important reforms have been made since the deadly drinking water contamination. 'The testing that occurs of the municipal drinking water in Ontario now is very rigorous,' Chris Peabody said. He said 35 people currently work at the Walkerton Clean Water Centre where operators from across Canada are trained on how to provide safe and clean drinking water. But Peabody didn't want to speak further about the tragedy from 25 years ago, saying it was a traumatic experience for so many people. Bruce Davidson, the Walkerton resident, said even though the E. coli illnesses in his family weren't as serious as many others, they have all been struggling with the consequences. He said his wife had sporadic but 'excruciating pain' and severe cramping for around three years, and he and his son are still experiencing 'days when you just don't really want to get too far from a washroom.' The community has largely moved forward, he said. Housing has expanded and so have schools. The water is probably safer than anywhere else in the province, he said. After the tragedy, a few residents decided to leave Walkerton but most — including Davidson — stayed. 'Most people looked at it and said, this community is our home. It is worth fighting for,' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 17, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
17-05-2025
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
A deadly E. coli outbreak in Walkerton, Ont., changed everything 25 years ago
Bruce Davidson remembers the E. coli outbreak that ravaged his hometown 25 years ago as a 'strange dream.' The hospital in the small Ontario community of Walkerton usually wasn't busy but it suddenly got inundated with patients experiencing severe diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain. The first cases were reported on May 17, 2000. Soon, the township roughly 140 kilometres north of London, Ont., ran out of diarrhea medication, the emergency department overflowed and air ambulances came to take sick people to other hospitals. What turned out to be Canada's worst outbreak of E. coli O157 infections, caused by manure-tainted drinking water, ultimately killed seven people and sickened around 2,300. It was a 'strange dream where you're still you but nothing else is the same,' said Davidson. His own family fell ill and he later formed a citizens' advocacy group in response to the tragedy. Schools and restaurants were closed, he said, and streets that normally buzzed with children playing on warm spring days felt like a 'ghost town.' 'For the first bit, we were all in shock, but very, very quickly that started to change to anger,' Davidson said in a recent phone interview. He had heard about waterborne diseases in impoverished parts of the world, but said he never imagined experiencing that in Canada. The country had the technology, money and infrastructure needed for a safe water supply, 'and yet here we are killing people with drinking water,' he said. The health crisis caused by a mix of human negligence, lack of resources and natural factors caused countrywide outrage and triggered a public inquiry led by Ontario Justice Dennis O'Connor that lasted for nearly two years. It was determined that heavy rainfall between May 8 and May 12, 2000 had washed cattle manure from a nearby farm into a well. From there, deadly E. coli bacteria found its way to the municipal water system. The two brothers who managed the system — Stan and Frank Koebel — pleaded guilty to criminal charges in the case. The inquiry found that neither brother had the formal training to operate a public utility and water system, that they failed to properly chlorinate the water and that water safety records were falsified. The inquiry also found that Stan Koebel knew on May 17 that water was contaminated with E. coli but he did not disclose those test results for days. By the time a boil-water advisory was issued on May 21, it was too late. 'It was extremely tragic and even more tragic by the fact that the operators who didn't have proper training and didn't understand that groundwater could make people sick were suppressing the results of tests,' said Theresa McClenaghan, the executive director of the Canadian Environmental Law Association. McClenaghan, who represented Walkerton's residents during the inquiry, said had the brothers been transparent and told the public about the issue as soon as they knew, many would not become ill. 'But that went on for days and days that people were still drinking this highly contaminated water,' she said. McClenaghan said the inquiry didn't leave any stone unturned and in the end put out a series of recommendations that now serve as the foundation of water safety regulations, including the province's Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act. The tragedy led to fundamental legislative reforms aimed at strengthening drinking water safety norms, including water source protection, treatment standards, testing and reporting procedures. Despite the huge progress, access to safe drinking water is still a serious issue, especially in northern Ontario's First Nations communities. A report released by the Ontario's auditor general in March raised concerns about oversight of non-municipal water systems that include inadequate testing and monitoring and lack of compliance enforcement. Nearly three million Ontarians get their water from a non-municipal system. While 98 per cent of samples tested from these systems in the past decade have met the provincial drinking water standards, there are weaknesses that need to be addressed to ensure water safety, the report said. It said about 1.3 million people drink water from private wells, and 35 per cent of the samples taken from them between 2003 and 2022 tested positive for indicators of bacterial contamination. The report listed recommendations that include increasing testing and oversight, and raising awareness about the risks and availability of testing resources. 'As demonstrated by the Walkerton crisis, the consequences of Ontarians drinking unsafe water can be deadly,' auditor general Shelley Spence wrote. The Canadian Environmental Law Association and dozens of other organizations have written to the provincial government calling for a 'timely and transparent' implementation of Spence's recommendations. The mayor of Brockton, Ont., the municipality that includes Walkerton, said he is glad that important reforms have been made since the deadly drinking water contamination. 'The testing that occurs of the municipal drinking water in Ontario now is very rigorous,' Chris Peabody said. He said 35 people currently work at the Walkerton Clean Water Centre where operators from across Canada are trained on how to provide safe and clean drinking water. But Peabody didn't want to speak further about the tragedy from 25 years ago, saying it was a traumatic experience for so many people. Bruce Davidson, the Walkerton resident, said even though the E. coli illnesses in his family weren't as serious as many others, they have all been struggling with the consequences. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. He said his wife had sporadic but 'excruciating pain' and severe cramping for around three years, and he and his son are still experiencing 'days when you just don't really want to get too far from a washroom.' The community has largely moved forward, he said. Housing has expanded and so have schools. The water is probably safer than anywhere else in the province, he said. After the tragedy, a few residents decided to leave Walkerton but most — including Davidson — stayed. 'Most people looked at it and said, this community is our home. It is worth fighting for,' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 17, 2025.
