05.11.2015
Dorset Worst Hit Area In The Country After 055 Strain Outbreak
Expert Public Health lawyers at national law firm Irwin Mitchell have raised concerns at ‘worrying’ new figures which show the number of people infected with E. coli across England rose by more than 1,000 last year.
Public Health England figures show there were 39,604 cases from September 2014 to September 2015, compared with 38,291 for the same period the year before. The health authority said the E. coli infection was one of the most common bloodstream infections in the UK and it was working to reduce the rate of infection.
Dorset was the worst hit area for the infection with 629 confirmed cases. In November 2014 an outbreak of E. coli 055 was reported in the county which led to two children being hospitalised, including one which Irwin Mitchell continue to represent in their battle for answers, with acute kidney problems and has since caused outbreaks of infectious diarrhoea.
Thirty people have now been affected by the 055 strain in areas including Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth, Blandford and Christchurch.
Irwin Mitchell’s expert Public Health team have represented thousands of people who have suffered serious health issues as a result of illness outbreaks arising from bacterial infections in the UK and abroad.
Jatinder Paul, an Associate Solicitor and Public Health expert at Irwin Mitchell has dealt with many cases of E.Coli and thinks more needs to be done to prevent the spread of these illnesses and educate the public on the dangers.
Expert Opinion
“E. coli is a serious illness which can cause often severe and uncomfortable short term symptoms but not many people are aware that vulnerable victims, such as children and older people, can go on to develop problems later in life as well.
“It is worrying to see such a large increase in the number of cases of E. coli and the best way to help reduce these numbers is through raising awareness and reviewing all cases carefully.
“E coli is most commonly transmitted in contaminated foodstuffs, including undercooked meat. Therefore if restaurants, takeaways or supermarkets are found to have sold tainted products then they should immediately review their processes to understand what mistakes have been made and what improvements are needed.
“The general public also need to fully understand the dangers of E. coli and how they can help prevention by washing their hands and storing, preparing and cooking food correctly.“ Jatinder Paul - Partner
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