- Certain strains of E. coli produce a toxin, verocytotoxin, which can cause a range of human disease from mild diarrhoea to very serious disease, especially in young children
- The bacteria are present in the faeces of infected animals and transmission to humans from animals occurs by eating or drinking food or water contaminated with infected faeces. Transmission may also occur through person-to-person spread, contact with infected livestock and exposure to contaminated environments
- Most cases occur in the summer and early autumn, usually in children under the age of five. It usually causes mild diarrhoea that settles without treatment in less than two weeks. In some cases, it progresses to a more serious illness, causing severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea. If the diarrhoea becomes severe, the person will probably need to be admitted to hospital
32% - increase in E. coli reports since 2003
20,000 + cases of E. coli in all age groups each year
13 children taken ill after visiting Godstone Farm, in Surrey
Source: Health Protection Agency, Department of Health and netdoctor.co.uk
