Public Health Wales
E.coli O157 Cardiff Update
PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday 17 August 2011
Update on outbreak of E.coli O157 in South East
Wales
Investigations are continuing into the outbreak of E.coli O157 in
South East Wales.
The total number of cases identified so far is seven, with a further
six people under investigation. The numbers are unchanged since
yesterday.
One person remains in hospital, seriously ill.
As a precautionary measure, Adonis Kebab House, City Road,
Cardiff, was closed by Cardiff Council on 11 August while
investigations are carried out.
Dr Gwen Lowe, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control for
Public Health Wales and Chair of the Multi-agency Outbreak Control
Team, said: “E.coli O157 is a serious bacterial infection that causes
abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
“The symptoms of E.coli O157 range from mild diarrhoea, stomach
cramps to bloody diarrhoea. Most people recover without
complications, but the most severe cases can develop kidney
failure.
“Anyone who is experiencing these symptoms should contact their
GP or NHS Direct Wales on 0845 4647 for advice.
“We have sent letters to GPs, out of hours services, hospitals and
pharmacies across South East Wales to alert them to the situation. I
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would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their vigilance
and cooperation in this outbreak.”
People can become infected with E.coli O157 by eating
contaminated food, through contact with farm animals or through
contact with contaminated water.
The infection can also pass from person to person so it is important
that anyone who is ill should observe strict personal hygiene to
avoid spreading the infection.
Dr Lowe continues: “The incubation period for E.coli O157 can range
from one to 14 days, but is characteristically three to four days. We
would therefore expect to continue to see more cases throughout
this period, even after the source of the illness has been identified
and removed.
“The length of the illness can vary but people with E.coli O157 are
usually ill for up to two weeks.
“This bug is very easily spread from person to person – only a tiny
amount of bacteria needs to come into contact with someone else to
infect them.
“The most important way of protecting your family where someone
has symptoms of diarrhoea is to wash hands thoroughly with liquid
soap and water after using the toilet and handling nappies, and
before preparing or eating food. Separate towels should be used for
each person.”
Public Health Wales is asking people who have eaten from the
Adonis Kebab House since Monday 18 July 2011 to help with the
investigation by giving their details via a form on the Public Health
Wales website – www.publichealthwales.org
Dr Lowe continues: “Since Monday, 39 people have already given us
their details and we will be contacting them very shortly.
“Investigations are ongoing and we continue to monitor the
situation closely.”
A multi-agency Outbreak Control Team has been established to lead
the investigation. The team comprises Public Health Wales, Cardiff
Council, Vale of Glamorgan County Borough Council, Rhondda
Cynon Taf County Borough Council and the Food Standards Agency.
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ENDS
For public health press enquiries contact the Public Health Wales
Communications Team on 02920 348755 (24 hours).
Notes to Editors
Public Health Wales will not confirm or deny further details about
the cases in order to protect their right to confidentiality.
Further details about the food premises will not be given as an
investigation is underway.
More information on E.coli O157 is available at:
http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/888/page/43884
Public Health Wales has four statutory functions:
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
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To provide and manage a range of public health, health
protection, healthcare improvement, health advisory, child
protection and microbiological laboratory services and
services relating to the surveillance, prevention and control of
communicable diseases;
To develop and maintain arrangements for making
information about matters related to the protection and
improvement of health in Wales available to the public; to
undertake and commission research into such matters and to
contribute to the provision and development of training in
such matters;
To undertake the systematic collection, analysis and
dissemination of information about the health of the people of
Wales in particular including cancer incidence, mortality and
survival; and prevalence of congenital anomalies; and
To provide, manage, monitor, evaluate and conduct research
into screening of health conditions and screening of health
related matters.
www.publichealthwales.org
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