One person has died following a UK outbreak of E.coli, health officials have said.

Since July, 30 cases of Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (Stec) have been confirmed across England and Scotland, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.

People aged seven to 81 have been infected, and one person from Scotland has now died following infection, the agency added.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) announced on Christmas Eve a precautionary recall of four different products from cheesemaker Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire Cheese, due to possible E. coli contamination.

It added a fifth product on 27 December.

The UKHSA said investigations were continuing into any common links between cases, including links to the recalled cheeses.

It said: “One death has been associated with this outbreak.

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“Epidemiological and food chain investigations have identified links between some of the identified cases and a number of unpasteurised cheeses produced by a business in England.”

The UKHSA, FSA, Public Health Scotland (PHS) and Food Standards Scotland are working together, along with other agencies, to investigate the outbreak.

The recalled cheeses are: Mrs Kirkham’s Mild and Creamy Lancashire, Mrs Kirkham’s Tasty Lancashire, Mrs Kirkham’s Mature Lancashire, Mrs Kirkham’s Smoked Lancashire, and No 1 Waitrose and Partners Farmhouse Kirkham’s Lancashire cheese.

Tina Potter, head of incidents at the FSA, said: “We are aware that this recalled product may be popular over the festive period, especially as it has been sold as part of a Christmas gift hamper, and so we are urging consumers to check whether they have bought or been gifted this product.

“Due to this outbreak of E.coli O145, we are urging all consumers to ensure they follow the advice in the product recall notices, which details all of the products which may pose a risk.”

The agencies said there was a change the products were contaminated with Stec.

Symptoms caused by Stec organisms include severe diarrhoea, which can be bloody, abdominal pain, and sometimes haemolytic uremic syndrome – a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure and can be fatal.

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