The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has been involved in four investigations into the E. coli outbreak in Britain so far this year.
An outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O145 was linked to unpasteurised milk cheese produced by Mrs Kirkham’s in Lancashire. APHA contributed to the incident management team’s investigation, including an advisory visit and epidemiologically relevant sampling.
Patients became ill between July and December 2023. In late July 2024, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) notified the Food Standards Agency (FSA) of four cases between June and July, bringing the number of sick people to 40, including two deaths. . One death was part of the latest update. Although there is a microbiological link between the latest patients and previous cases, research has not shown any link in the food chain between them and Ms Kirkham’s products.
Risks of contact with animals
The number of people who became ill in each E. coli outbreak was not disclosed by APHA and the UKHSA has not yet provided the figures when requested by Food Safety News.
A STEC O26 outbreak was epidemiologically linked to contact with animals at a visitor attraction on a farm.
Following a consultation and sampling visit, E. coli O26 was detected in animal fecal samples, which upon further characterization with sequencing at the UKHSA GBRU were found to be the same strain as human isolates. The farm has made recommended improvements and there have been no further cases, so the outbreak is considered resolved.
Comparison of human and animal isolates by whole genome sequencing (WGS) is carried out by the Gastrointestinal Bacteria Reference Unit (GBRU) of the UKHSA.
APHA also assisted in the investigation of two combined STEC and Cryptosporidium outbreaks, both linked to open farms. One involved STEC O157, the other involved STEC O26.
In the STEC O157 and Cryptosporidium outbreak, 10 isolates of E. coli O157, identified by APHA based on bacteriology on fresh animal fecal samples, were sent to the GBRU. These were confirmed to be genetically identical to the human outbreak strain of STEC O157.
Among the most common deficiencies at animal contact visitor attractions, such as open farms, include poor handwashing facilities; suboptimal supervision of animal contact; contamination of walkways with contaminated litter or animal feces; and unclear marking of animal contact versus non-contact areas.
A dozen Cryptosporidium outbreaks
APHA was also part of investigations into twelve cryptosporidium incidents and outbreaks in 2024.
April to June is traditionally the busiest time for cryptosporidiosis studies and is related to the frequency of open farm visits by families or school groups around Easter and public holidays.
Eleven of these were epidemiologically linked to farms in England, and one to a farm in Wales.
Four APHA company advisory visits took place, three of which included sampling. APHA provided veterinary advice during investigations covering identified deficiencies to assist farms in complying with the Industry Code for Visitor Attractions.
This year, some farm attractions offered visitors cuddly toy lambs and piglets. This entails close and prolonged contact and the risk of contamination of clothing and footwear. These types of activities increase the risk of transmission of a range of zoonotic organisms, APHA said.
The agency said the availability of appropriate and appropriately located handwashing facilities, including soap, rather than antimicrobial gel, is extremely important.
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