An E. coli outbreak in the United Kingdom has resulted in at least 275 people falling ill during the past month, with one person reported dead, health officials announced Thursday. The outbreak, which caused 122 individuals to be hospitalized, has been linked to lettuce in pre-packaged sandwiches by the U.K. Health Security Agency.
In May, two patients affected by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli passed away, but only one of the deaths was likely due to the infection, according to the agency. Both individuals who died had underlying medical conditions. E. coli bacteria are typically found in the intestines of healthy people and animals, with some strains causing mild diarrhea while others can cause more serious conditions such as urinary tract infections, cystitis, intestinal infections, vomiting, and life-threatening blood poisoning.
More than 80% of the individuals affected by the latest outbreak experienced bloody diarrhea, as reported by the UKHSA. Many companies that produce sandwiches sold by major retailers in the U.K. began recalling sandwiches, wraps, and salads voluntarily on June 14 in response to the outbreak. Although new cases have decreased recently, the investigation into the exact source of the outbreak is still ongoing.