Researchers have detailed the first E. coli O103 outbreak in England traced to raw milk cheese.

In June 2022, routine microbiological surveillance at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) identified 12 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O103:H2 cases.

People fell ill between May and June 2022. Seven cases were female, and ages ranged between 8 and 88 years old with a median of 58 years old. Ten patients lived in different parts of England and two were from Wales.

According to a study in the journal Epidemiology and Infection, nine patients reported diarrhea; seven reported abdominal pain; five had bloody stools and nausea, and one reported fever and vomiting. No-one attended emergency healthcare but one person was hospitalized as a result of STEC infection.

Soft cheese link
Patients were initially interviewed with an enhanced surveillance questionnaire that collects information on food history, contact with animals, and environmental exposures for seven days prior to the onset of illness. Following a review of the data, it was noted that a number of cases reported eating the same artisan cheese, and sick people were re-interviewed using a modified trawling questionnaire to get a more detailed history focused on dairy and salad products.

Food history...