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Tenth person develops E.coli in outbreak linked to Dundee firm

By Reporter

October 8 2015, 5:33pm

2006 National Escherichia, Shigella, Vibrio Reference Unit at CDC Under a magnification of 6836x, this colorized scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted a number of Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria of the strain O157:H7, which is one of hundreds of strains of this bacterium. Although most strains are harmless, and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals, this strain produces a powerful toxin, which can cause severe illness.E. coli O157:H7 was first recognized as a cause of illness in 1982 during an outbreak of severe bloody diarrhea; the outbreak was traced to contaminated hamburgers. Since then, most infections have come from eating undercooked ground beef.The combination of letters and numbers in the name of the bacterium refers to the specific markers found on its surface, which distinguishes it from other types of E. coli. See PHIL 8800 for a black and white version of this image. Escherichia coli O157:H7 is an emerging cause of foodborne illness. An estimated 73,000 cases of infection, and 61 deaths occur in the United States each year. Infection often leads to bloody diarrhea, and occasionally to kidney failure. Most illness has been associated with eating undercooked, contaminated ground beef. Person-to-person contact in families and child care centers is also an important mode of transmission. Infection can also occur after drinking raw milk, and after swimming in, or drinking sewage-contaminated water.Consumers can prevent E. coli O157:H7 infection by thoroughly cooking ground beef, avoiding unpasteurized milk, and washing hands carefully. Because the organism lives in the intestines of healthy cattle, preventive measures on cattle farms and during meat processing are being investigated.

A tenth person has developed a strain of E.coli linked to Scottish venison.

The Courier reported earlier in the week of a suspected link between the outbreak and venison from a Dundee meat production company.

Highland Game, run by Danish entrepreneur Christian Nissen, provide venison products to supermarkets throughout Scotland and were named as being linked to the outbreak after an investigation by Health Protection Scotland raised questions over raw meats produced by the group.

Nine victims are said to be recovering at home while one remains in hospital.

A spokesperson for HPS said: “Following a further Incident Management Team meeting this morning, Health Protection Scotland (HPS) can confirm that a further case of E coli O157 PT32 has been linked with the recent outbreak, bringing the total to ten.

“In keeping with the other cases, this individual consumed venison products before the outbreak came to light and from within the product use-by-dates identified by Food Standards Scotland. These products are now no longer on sale. “

Despite the link being drawn to them, Highland Game insisted that hygiene was a matter of great importance to the company.

A spokesperson for the firm said: “The FSS has undertaken a full inspection of our Dundee premises and our records and we will continue to provide them with every assistance.

“There is no substantiated evidence to support the actual source of the outbreak

“Our stringent hygiene controls at Highland Game are second to none, however, as with all meats there can be a risk of contamination somewhere in the food chain.”