Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC) are a group of bacteria which cause illness in humans. Symptoms can include diarrhoea, abdominal pain and fever. In Northern Ireland, the most common serotypes are O157 and O26. In a small number of people STEC can cause a serious illness called Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS). This condition affects the blood and blood vessels and can result in kidney failure. The risk of HUS is highest in children aged five years and under.
Sometimes STEC is referred to a Verocytotoxin-producing E Coli (VTEC). These are different names for the same group of bacteria.
STEC is very infectious and can be easily passed to others. People can become infected by:
- eating infected/contaminated food that has not been cooked all the way through, particularly minced meat products such as burgers and sausages, or salad items that have not been washed properly;
- handling/preparation of food contaminated with soil for example, potatoes and leeks where the soil has not been washed away;
- drinking infected/contaminated water such as from streams, rivers and lakes etc. which may contain animal poo;
- close contact with animals, particularly cattle, sheep and goats. Animal saliva may be infected because of the way animals clean themselves;
- direct contact with animal poo on the animal itself, in their pen or on the floor;
- contact with an infected person, particularly if you don’t wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet or before handling food.
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