Supermarket chain Morrisons is believed to be at the centre of an outbreak of E. coli infection in Scotland, which has led to the death of a 66-year-old woman and two more people taken seriously ill .
Health officials said yesterday that early enquires suggest the outbreak may have been caused from cooked meat bought at two of the Morrisons supermarkets in Paisley, outside Glasgow .
A total of seven people have contracted E. coli 0157 – the most serious form of the infection, in the Paisley area, which has led to the withdrawal of sliced cold meats from two Morrisons stores .
Dr Syed Ahmed, head of the outbreak control team at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGG), commented: “While there is no conclusive evidence yet, initial investigations have indicated that there may possibly be a link to the consumption of some sliced cold meats bought locally from the delicatessen counters of two Morrisons supermarkets in Paisley .”
Health officials said another case of E. coli had been reported in a woman from the Paisley area holidaying in Northern Ireland . The woman, who ate cold meat from one of the Morrison stores around two weeks ago, has been hospitalised but officials did not say how ill she was.
E. coli is a common bacterium which mostly helps people to stay healthy, but some strains, such as the O157 strain, can prove deadly in the elderly and those with lowered immune systems . Symptoms of E. coli 0157 poisoning include stomach cramps, diarrhoea, nausea and fever .
Morrsions have warned members of the public not to consume any sliced cold meat products purchased from the stores over the past few weeks and to contact their doctor immediately if they feel ill .
The retailer added that no other stores or products are thought to be involved in the investigation.
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