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Q&A: Farms-linked E.coli outbreak | Q&A: Farms-linked E.coli outbreak |
(about 21 hours later) | |
E.coli is a common bug, but some strains are deadly | E.coli is a common bug, but some strains are deadly |
Four petting farms have closed some or all of their attractions over feared links to E.coli infections. | Four petting farms have closed some or all of their attractions over feared links to E.coli infections. |
The largest outbreak - with 57 people, including 10 children, infected - is linked to Godstone Farm in Surrey. | |
What is the bug at the centre of the cases? | What is the bug at the centre of the cases? |
E.coli or Escherichia to give it its full name. | E.coli or Escherichia to give it its full name. |
E.coli is a common bug which is present everywhere in the environment. | E.coli is a common bug which is present everywhere in the environment. |
Mostly it helps people to stay healthy, but it can also cause illness as well. | Mostly it helps people to stay healthy, but it can also cause illness as well. |
What has made the farm cases so concerning is the particular strain of E.coli at play. | What has made the farm cases so concerning is the particular strain of E.coli at play. |
Lab tests have shown it is 0157 - the most serious type. Symptoms can range from mild diarrhoea to haemorrhagic colitis - a combination of severe abdominal cramps and blood in the stools. | Lab tests have shown it is 0157 - the most serious type. Symptoms can range from mild diarrhoea to haemorrhagic colitis - a combination of severe abdominal cramps and blood in the stools. |
Most people will shake it off within a few days, but children and older people can be particularly hard hit. | Most people will shake it off within a few days, but children and older people can be particularly hard hit. |
A small proportion may eventually develop serious kidney damage which requires dialysis treatment or a transplant. | A small proportion may eventually develop serious kidney damage which requires dialysis treatment or a transplant. |
How have people been infected? | How have people been infected? |
This is still at the centre of an investigation by health officials. | This is still at the centre of an investigation by health officials. |
But there are three basic methods of infection - through contaminated food, touching animals or from the environment. | But there are three basic methods of infection - through contaminated food, touching animals or from the environment. |
Animals - and cattle in particular - carry this strain of E.coli in their gut. It does not seem to adversely affect them, but can be passed on to humans by eating undercooked meat. | Animals - and cattle in particular - carry this strain of E.coli in their gut. It does not seem to adversely affect them, but can be passed on to humans by eating undercooked meat. |
It can also be present in their faeces and, as a result, passed on to humans who come in direct contact with them. | It can also be present in their faeces and, as a result, passed on to humans who come in direct contact with them. |
The bacterium is also quite robust which means it can live in the environment - that is to say on things such as railings and gates - for weeks and some say months. | The bacterium is also quite robust which means it can live in the environment - that is to say on things such as railings and gates - for weeks and some say months. |
People then touch these surfaces and then by eating food it gets into their body orally. | People then touch these surfaces and then by eating food it gets into their body orally. |
Undercooked meat used to be the primary source of most 0157 infections. | Undercooked meat used to be the primary source of most 0157 infections. |
But food production is generally considered to have improved its safety standards over the past 10 years and this is now becoming a less important - albeit still significant - source of infection. | But food production is generally considered to have improved its safety standards over the past 10 years and this is now becoming a less important - albeit still significant - source of infection. |
What does investigation of the infections involve? | What does investigation of the infections involve? |
The Health Protection Agency is the government body responsible for investigation outbreaks. | The Health Protection Agency is the government body responsible for investigation outbreaks. |
Its officials are working with local environmental health officers and the Veterinary Laboratory Agency. | Its officials are working with local environmental health officers and the Veterinary Laboratory Agency. |
When reports of illnesses at Godstone Farm began to emerge, the agencies initially advised the farm to introduce measures to reduce the risk of infection. | When reports of illnesses at Godstone Farm began to emerge, the agencies initially advised the farm to introduce measures to reduce the risk of infection. |
This included restricting access to large animals, such as cattle. When further cases emerged, the farm was told to shut its doors to the public. | This included restricting access to large animals, such as cattle. When further cases emerged, the farm was told to shut its doors to the public. |
Lab tests have already identified the strain 0157 and now officials are concentrating on identifying the source of the infection. | Lab tests have already identified the strain 0157 and now officials are concentrating on identifying the source of the infection. |
They will do this by analysing data and interviewing those affected to establish any pattern or trends. | They will do this by analysing data and interviewing those affected to establish any pattern or trends. |
But it could take weeks before any answers are known. | But it could take weeks before any answers are known. |
How common are E.coli infections? | How common are E.coli infections? |
There are more than 20,000 reports of E.coli infections each year. | There are more than 20,000 reports of E.coli infections each year. |
Many of these are in hospital and are among elderly patients. | Many of these are in hospital and are among elderly patients. |
But cases of 0157 are much rarer. In England and Wales, there were just 950 cases during 2008. | But cases of 0157 are much rarer. In England and Wales, there were just 950 cases during 2008. |
In the worst recorded outbreak, 20 people died in Scotland in 1996-97 after attending a church lunch in Wishaw, Strathclyde. | In the worst recorded outbreak, 20 people died in Scotland in 1996-97 after attending a church lunch in Wishaw, Strathclyde. |
Following the Scottish outbreak, the British government set up a commission to look into the issue of food safety. | Following the Scottish outbreak, the British government set up a commission to look into the issue of food safety. |
What can be done to prevent such infections? | What can be done to prevent such infections? |
The two best - and most simple - steps are good hand hygiene and cooking and preparing meat properly. | The two best - and most simple - steps are good hand hygiene and cooking and preparing meat properly. |
Raw and cooked meat should always be kept apart during food preparation and people should always clean their hands after handling raw meat. | Raw and cooked meat should always be kept apart during food preparation and people should always clean their hands after handling raw meat. |
For direct animal-to-human transmission or indirect infection via the environment, good old soap and water is the best defence. | For direct animal-to-human transmission or indirect infection via the environment, good old soap and water is the best defence. |
While the bacterium is pretty good at surviving in the environment, it can be relatively easily killed by washing hands - and cleaning surfaces with disinfectant for that matter. | While the bacterium is pretty good at surviving in the environment, it can be relatively easily killed by washing hands - and cleaning surfaces with disinfectant for that matter. |