Expert Public Health Lawyers Call For Thorough Investigation

Public Health England (PHE) has confirmed a new outbreak of E.coli after two children were admitted to a hospital in Southampton suffering with haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), a complication of E coli infection. 

The outbreak comes just months after ten people in Dorset were affected by E.coli.

Expert public health lawyers at Irwin Mitchell, who represent the family of a child who was hospitalised with kidney damage caused by the outbreak in November 2014, have called for a thorough investigation into the latest cluster of infections in the region.

Public health officials investigating last year’s E.coli outbreak will gather information from the latest outbreak to determine if there are any links between the two issues.

The organisation is working with local environment health officials from Bournemouth and Poole, as well as Dorset County Council Public Health staff and PHE’s specialist Gastrointestinal Bacteria Reference Unit and Field Epidemiology Services based in London.

Amandeep Dhillon, a Partner and expert public health lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, who also represents over 30 people affected by an illness outbreak linked to the Real China restaurant in Eastleigh, said: 

Expert Opinion

This is the second outbreak of E.coli we have seen in the region in recent months, with young children affected on both occasions. <br/> <br/>“Young people are particularly vulnerable to the infection and we have seen first-hand, representing a family whose son suffered severe kidney damage, the long-term impact the infection can have. <br/> <br/>“It is absolutely imperative an investigation into the latest outbreak is launched and action is taken if any links between the two outbreaks are discovered by PHE. The severity of severe gastric illness should never be underestimated and it is vital the authorities establish if there is a wider problem in the region. Amandeep Dhillon - Partner