E.coli Outbreak Report
The Report of the Outbreak Control Team into the Outbreak of
E.coli 0157 in South Wales in Autumn 2005
In September 2005, the largest E. coli O157 outbreak
ever seen in Wales occurred. There were 157 cases meeting the case
definition of which 118 were microbiologically confirmed. 109 of
these confirmed cases were of phage type 21/28 and of a strain
unique to this outbreak.
Primary cases were mostly amongst schoolchildren attending 44
schools in Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon
Taf. There were 31 cases that were hospitalised, 11 of which were
transferred to tertiary hospitals, and one child died.
Amongst the cases were 3 Vale of Glamorgan residents - a 6 year
old Colwinston female who was hospitalised at Princess of Wales
Hospital, her 41 year old father and a 64 year old Colwinston male
who was also hospitalised.
No obvious food sources were identified in any of the 3 cases in
the Vale of Glamorgan and all made a full recovery. The full report
is below.
E.coli 0157 Outbreak September 2005 Report (PDF)