A person has tragically lost their life in the United Kingdom due to an E. coli outbreak. Health officials in the UK have reported that at least 275 individuals have been affected by this outbreak over the past month, with 122 of them requiring hospitalization. The outbreak has been linked to lettuce used in pre-packaged sandwiches, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
During May, two patients affected by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli sadly passed away, although only one of the deaths is likely to be directly linked to the infection. Both individuals who died had underlying medical conditions. E. coli bacteria are known to reside in the intestines of healthy people and animals, with some strains causing severe conditions such as urinary tract infections, cystitis, and even life-threatening blood poisoning.
The majority of those affected in this recent outbreak experienced symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, as reported by the UKHSA. Companies responsible for producing sandwiches sold in major grocery stores and retail chains across the UK have voluntarily issued recalls for their products, including sandwiches, wraps, and salads starting from June 14. Fortunately, new cases have declined, although investigations into the source of the outbreak are still ongoing.