b'E.Coli (O157:H7)What is it? deadliest human E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a large andwhich occurred in Scotland in 1996 when 21 diverse group of bacteria, with more thanpeople died after eating infected meat from 700 identified types. They are mainlya butcher in Lanarkshire. Another 500 were harmless and inhabit the intestinal tracts ofinfected 70 . people and other warm-blooded animals, but a few strains including the notoriousSince then, outbreaks have continued, with O157:H7, can be deadly. The increasedpetting farms, meat and contaminated number of human cases has beensalad leaves all being implicated. In recent attributed to the intensification of farmingyears, there has been a sharp rise in E. coli practices and the consequent widespreadinfections in the UK, with more than 43,000 use of antibiotics.cases recorded in England and Wales in 2018-19, 71600 of which were the deadly Studies in France 64 , Sweden 65and Canada 66 O157 strain 72 .have identified a positive correlationRoutes of transmissionbetween the number of cows in an area andSince the bacteria are excreted in faeces, rates of human infection. there is a potential risk to anyone working History with or visiting farmed animals and their E. coli O157:H7 was first described as anenvironment. Slaughterhouses are an emerging foodborne zoonotic pathogenobvious place for contamination of meat. (an illness that can be transmitted fromOperators are urged to ensure that the animals to humans) in 1982 duringanimals skins are not covered in faeces an investigation into an outbreak ofand prevent the spillage of the digestive haemorrhagic colitis bloody diarrhoea,tract contents during and after evisceration associated with the consumption of(organ removal).contaminated beef burgers in the US67 .The main risk to the public comes from The main reservoirs for infection are cows,handling and eating infected foods. Raw or sheep, goats and deer 68 . undercooked beef products are the most common source of infection for people, but The first community outbreak in the UKraw milk, yoghurt, cheese and cold sliced was in July 1985 when 49 people fell illmeats are also sources of infection 73 .and 19 people were hospitalised 69 . Many more cases followed, including BritainsIn fact, any foodstuff (including raw 14'