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E.coli outbreak

Four more people have fallen victim to an E.coli outbreak in the North East

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Four more affected by E.coli outbreak centred on butcher

Four more reports of E.coli O157 infections in the North East have been received by health officials in the last 24 hours

This brings the total number of people affected to 12, of which five are in hospital.

Four of the people in hospital are children aged between eight and fourteen. The fifth person in hospital is an adult.

Although a definite source has not yet been identified, many of the affected people are known to have eaten pre-cooked meats or savoury products supplied by Robinson’s butcher and caterer who have shops in Wingate and Billingham.

Many of those affected are known to have eaten food purchased from Robinson’s shops before control measures were introduced on 15 July.

Health protection experts from Public Health England and environmental health teams from both County Durham and Stockton councils are continuing to investigate all possible sources of the outbreak.

As a precaution local residents in the south of County Durham and North Tees have been advised not to eat any cold pre-cooked meats or savouries bought since 25 June from Robinson’s butchers and caterers in Wingate and Billingham, and to throw out any they may still have in their fridge or freezers.

E.coli O157 is a serious bacterial infection that can cause severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhoea and kidney failure.

As a precautionary measure we are advising anyone who has bought cooked meats or savouries from Robinson’s butchers in Wingate or Billingham since 25 June, not to eat them. If they still have any of these products in their fridge or freezer they should throw them out immediately.

The owner and staff of Robinson’s butchers and caterers are co-operating fully with the investigation. They have conducted a deep clean of both premises and discarded all ready to eat food prepared before 16 July 2015.

Anyone who has eaten cooked meats bought since 25 June from Robinson’s butchers and feels unwell should contact their GP in the usual way.’

– Dr Deb Wilson, Consultant in health protection and chair of the outbreak control team

North East E.coli outbreak - cold meat warning

Two shops in County Durham and Teesside have been affected

People are being warned not to eat cold meats bought from two shops in the North East, after of an outbreak of the E.coli bacteria.

The warning applies to cold pre-cooked meats and savouries bought since June 25th from two branches of Robinson's butchers and caterers - in Wingate, County Durham, and Billingham, Teesside.

There has been seven confirmed cases and one suspected case of E.coli O157 in the last week, affecting adults and children.

Three children are currently receiving treatment in hospital.

Public Health England says the warning is being issued as a precaution, while they investigate the source of the outbreak.

E.coli O157 is a serious bacterial infection that can cause severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhoea and kidney failure.

Pre-cooked meats are thought to be behind the outbreak

"The source of this outbreak is not yet known. However, several of the affected people are known to have eaten cooked meat products bought or supplied by Robinson’s butcher shops in either Wingate or Billingham. Although our investigation is at a very early stage, as a precautionary measure we are advising anyone who has bought cooked meats or savouries from Robinson’s butchers in Wingate or Billingham since 25 June, and still has them in their fridge or freezer, not to eat them and to throw them out immediately. The owner and staff of Robinson’s butchers and caterers are co-operating fully with the investigation and have agreed to discard all ready to eat food from both premises while the investigation continues. They have also agreed to carry out a deep clean of both premises and reinforce good hygiene practices. E.coli O157 infection can cause severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhoea and more rarely kidney failure in children. Anyone who has eaten cooked meats bought since 25 June from Robinson’s butchers and feels unwell should contact their GP in the usual way."

– Dr Deb Wilson, outbreak control team, Public Health England

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