Children fall victim to deadly E.coli in rocket leaves

CHILDREN are among scores of victims taken ill after eating rocket leaves infected with a deadly strain of E.coli in an outbreak that has already claimed two lives, it emerged last night.

More than 150 people across Britain have been affected by the bug, which is being linked with rocket imported from Mediterranean countries.

The outbreak has now left more than 60 patients needing hospital treatment.

Now Public Health England (PHE) has revealed that some of those affected have been children, although it could not say if they had needed hospital treatment or were among the fatalities.

The strain is a type of E.coli 0157, which is known to be particularly virulent, causing severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhoea and fever. Young children and the elderly are thought to be particularly at risk of further complications because their immune systems are weaker.

The outbreak is concentrated in southern England, with 54 confirmed cases in the South West and 43 in the South East. It is thought to have first come to light in Bristol and Bath but cases have now been reported across the country.

Several food wholesalers have been told to ‘stop adding some imported rocket leaves to their mixed salad products while investigations are ongoing,’ said the Food Standards Agency.

But with some people keeping salad bags for days before eating their contents, contaminated rocket could still be lurking in fridges.

Supermarkets have not been ordered to take salad bags containing rocket off shelves. A PHE spokesman said this was because the source of the outbreak had not been confirmed.

Instead, officials are reiterating standard advice to wash vegetables, including salad leaves, thoroughly before eating them.