E. Coli bacteria affects every household on every year because of food poisoning. Its outbreaking is extremely severe.
Public Health England has told shoppers to throughly wash salad before eating it after a deadly outbreak of E. coli claimed lives.
The health body is still searching for answers after more 62 patients across Britain needed hospital treatment for confirmed cases of E. coli 0157 strain were discovered across the UK.
The outbreak is being linked to rocket imported from Mediterranean countries - however experts said the source of the outbreak is not confirmed.
What is E.coli?
Escherichia coli O157, sometimes called VTEC, is a bacterial infection which can cause severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhoea and kidney failure.
The bacteria is found in the gut and faeces of many animals including cattle. It is caused by eating contaminated food, touching infected animals, contact with people with the illness - particularly if people do not wash hands after going to the toilet or handling food.
People can also get it from drinking water, poorly treated water supplies or contaminated water such as ponds or streams.
Food to avoid
E.coli can be caught from undercooked ground beef, unpasteurized (raw) milk and juice, soft cheese made from raw milk and raw fruits and vegetables, such as sprouts.
It can also be found on chicken. People are also advised to wash salad leaves and herbs.
Experts advice people cooking to use food thermometer to make sure that ground beef has reached a safe internal temperature of 160° F.
Wash hands before preparing food, after diapering infants, and after contact with cows, sheep, or goats, their food or treats, or their living environment.
Following the outbreak of E.coli, the FSA (Food Standards Agency) said: “The FSA is continuing to work closely with PHE and local authorities to investigate an outbreak of E.coli O157.
“The outbreak has been linked to eating mixed salad leaves, including rocket leaves, however a specific food source has not been confirmed at this stage. As a precaution, the FSA is reminding people of the importance of good hand and food hygiene practices.
“All vegetables, including salads, intended to be eaten raw should be thoroughly washed unless they are specifically labelled ‘ready to eat’. Investigations are ongoing.”
The illness can last between five and ten days.
Dr Roger Henderson, Media Medic and Family GP says: “Diarrhoea caused by food poisoning is a common health hazard, often due to people forgetting about common hygiene principles (such as hand washing).
“Poorly cooked or uncooked food is also a risk factor as is the incorrect storing of foods.
“Food poisoning should pass after 48 hours, but it’s important to rest and avoid becoming dehydrated.
“If you are suffering from acute diarrhoea, then an anti-diarrhoeal medication can help to stop the symptoms quite quickly.”
Dr Isabel Oliver, director of PHE’s field epidemiology service, said: "PHE has been working to establish the cause of the outbreak and has identified that several of the affected individuals ate mixed salad leaves including rocket leaves prior to becoming unwell.
"Currently, the source of the outbreak is not confirmed and remains under investigation; we are not ruling out other food items as a potential source."
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