The death of a person in England is linked to the ongoing outbreak of E.coli, the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) said.
Salad was identified as the sourceit turned out last week.
While two people in England have died within 28 days of being infected with the current strain, information from doctors suggests that “one of these deaths is likely to be linked to their STEC. [Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli] infection,” the UKHSA said.
Both individuals had underlying health problems and both died in May.
At least 122 people have been admitted to hospital for treatment since the outbreak.
The current number of cases is as follows: 182 in England; 58 in Scotland; 31 in Wales; and four in Northern Ireland, although “evidence suggests” that the four people “acquired their infection in England”, the health authority added.
As of June 25, 19 more cases were reported in the last seven-day period.
This brings the total number of confirmed infections in the UK to 275.
All currently registered cases showed symptoms before June 4.
A number of food manufacturers have he recalled sandwiches, wraps and salads sold in major retail chains due to concerns that they could be linked to the outbreak.
Positive signs of the tragic death of E. coli
Tragically, but perhaps unsurprisingly, there has been a death associated with an E.coli outbreak of this magnitude across the UK.
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is the most dangerous of all common diarrheal infections in the UK.
It causes particularly severe stomach upset in most people, with fatal consequences in about 0.5% of cases – mostly in people over 65 or in very young children.
The specific strain involved in this latest outbreak, E.coli O145 t5:206, is particularly nasty.
According to the UKHSA, it is associated with more severe disease and an increased chance of something called haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), which can lead to kidney failure and death.
The individual who died in this latest outbreak was an adult and did not have HUS.
However, the UKHSA said they had underlying medical conditions that would increase their vulnerability to STEC.
While the outbreak cannot be declared “over” until the exact source of the lettuce contamination is confirmed, the fact that there have been no new cases of E.coli 0145 since June 24 suggests that things are moving in the right direction.
E. coli is a diverse group of normally harmless bacteria that live in the intestines of humans and animals.
However, some strains produce toxins that can cause serious illness, such as STEC.
While the UKHSA said the number of reported infections is falling, it expects more to come.
This is because samples are still being handed over from the NHS and ‘whole genome sequencing’ is underway.
Symptoms include “severe and sometimes bloody diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever”, said Amy Douglas, UKHSA incident director.
Simple steps to avoid infection include washing hands with soap and warm water and using disinfectants to clean surfaces, she added.
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People who are unwell should not prepare food for others and avoid visiting people in hospitals or nursing homes.
They are also advised not to return to work, school or daycare until 48 hours after their symptoms have stopped.
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Darren Whitby, head of incidents at the Food Standards Agency, said the investigation “remains complex”.
He added: “We are continuing to work with relevant businesses and local authorities to ensure the necessary steps are taken to protect consumers.
“While we are confident that the likely source of the outbreak is lettuce-related, we are continuing to work to confirm this fact and identify the root cause of the outbreak with growers, suppliers and manufacturers so that steps can be taken to prevent a recurrence.” “