E.coli death confirmed in Scotland

A PERSON in Scotland has died after an outbreak of a deadly strain of E.coli in Britain, health officials have said.

An unnamed individual was confirmed dead yesterday by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Public Health Scotland, but no further details on their identity, when they died or the circumstances were released.

There have been at least 30 cases of STEC-HUS in humans since July, which is caused by E. coli O157. The rare strain of E.coli has been recorded in people across England and Scotland aged from seven to 81, but most cases have occurred this month, officials said.

A 17-year-old girl was left fighting for her life after she caught the infection from food at a Christmas market, her family believes. Antonia Hay, an aspiring actress, has spent two weeks in intensive care and required multiple operations, including to remove part of her bowel. She said her “dreams have been ripped away” because she cannot continue her performing arts course.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) announced a precautionary recall of four products from the cheesemaker Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire Cheese on Christmas Eve because of possible E. coli contamination. The cheeses in question were Mrs Kirkham’s Mild and Creamy Lancashire, Mrs Kirkham’s Tasty Lancashire, Mrs Kirkham’s Mature Lancashire and Mrs Kirkham’s Smoked Lancashire, which were part of Christmas hampers. A further FSA notice was issued for a precautionary recall of the Waitrose artisan No 1 Kirkham’s Lancashire product, which is made by the same company. The award-winning cheesemaker from Lancashire makes its product in Goosnargh and is the only place in the world to still make raw milk Lancashire cheese.

Although E. coli is often transmitted via contaminated food, the UKHSA says that it “can also be spread by close contact with an infected person, as well as direct contact with an infected animal”.