The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has been involved in four E. coli outbreak investigations so far this year in the United Kingdom. A Shiga toxin-producing E.
coli (STEC) O145 outbreak was linked to unpasteurized milk cheese produced by Mrs. Kirkham’s in Lancashire. APHA contributed to the incident management team investigation, including an advisory visit and epidemiologically relevant sampling.
Patients fell ill between July and December 2023. In late July 2024, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) notified the Food Standards Agency (FSA) of four cases between June and July, taking the number of sick people to 40, including two deaths. One death was part of the latest update.
While there is a microbiological link between the latest patients and previous cases, investigations did not identify a food chain connection between them and Mrs. Kirkham’s products. Animal contact risks The number of people sick in each E.
coli outbreak was not disclosed by APHA and the UKHSA has not yet provided the figures when asked by Food Safety News. A STEC O26 outbreak was epidemiologically linked with animal contact at a farm visitor attraction. Following an advisory and sampling visit E.
coli O26 was detected in animal feces samples, which on further characterization with sequencing at the UKHSA GBRU, were found to be the same strain as human isolates. The farm made recommended improvements and there have been no further cases, so the outbreak is considered resolved. Comparison .
