Published Date: 1996-12-14 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/AH> E.Coli 0157:H7 - UK (Scotland) (06)
Archive Number: 19961214.2073

E.COLI O157:H7 - UK (SCOTLAND) (06)
===================================
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 11:06:44 GMT
From:jralphb@easynet.co.uk (J Ralph Blanchfield)

The serious outbreak of E.coli O157:H7 food poisoning in central
Scotland continues. The first cases were noted on 22 November. Up to
11 December, 394 people (mostly in Lanarkshire and in the Forth
Valley, plus one in Glasgow and one in Lothian) have been affected
with symptoms, of whom 215 have been positively confirmed up to 11
December. The number of deaths has increased to eleven. 40 people are
in hospital, of whom eleven are described as "giving cause for
concern". Most cases, and all the deaths, are elderly people.The exact
number of children involved is not clear, but the first 110 cases were
reported as including 18 children. Currently six children are in
hospital, four of them undergoing kidney dialysis.
Many of the cases are in the town of Wishaw. Health officials
consider that the cause of the outbreak was cooked
meat supplied by John M Barr & Son of Wishaw, a family firm supplying
cooked meats to more than 60 outlets (wholesalers and retailers) in
the surrounding areas. The company has withdrawn all cooked meats, has
closed the business "until further notice" and was said to be
cooperating with health officials. As well as investigation by the
Lanarkshire health authority, a Government investigative team has been
operating, under Professor Hugh Pennington of Aberdeen University,
and Strathclyde police are also involved. In addition a Fatal Accident
Enquiry has been instituted.
On 10 December it was reported that a case has been linked with a
second Lanarkshire butcher, Colin Mulvaney of New Stevenston, one of
the outlets said to have stocked John Barr & Sons products. The
product involved is reported as a ham steak roll bought on 28
November. It was not manufactured by John Barr & Sons, but it is
possible that it may have been cross-contaminated in Mulvaney's shop
by residual contamination in the shop environment after the Barr
products were seized and removed from the shop. The Mulvaney shop has
been closed and will not be reopened until health officials are
satisfied that a "deep clean" has been carried out and hygiene
regulations thoroughly complied with.
--
J Ralph Blanchfield
Food Science, Food Technology & Food Law Consultant
Chair, IFST Member Relations & Services Committee
Web Editor, Institute of Food Science & Technology
IFST Web address: http://www.easynet.co.uk/ifst/=20
jralphb@easynet.co.uk (J Ralph Blanchfield)
...............................................................pc

Peter Cowen DVM, PhD
Director
PAHO/WHO Consulting Center for Graduate and
Residency Training in Veterinary Public Health
peter_cowen@ncsu.edu
--
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