This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Action outlined on E.coli O157
09/06/2003
Wide-ranging measures designed to reduce the threat
posed by E.coli O157 in Scotland have been published by the
Executive and the Food Standards Agency Scotland
(FSAS).
The joint report -
Implementing the Recommendations of the Task Force on
E.coli O157 - outlines progress on actions taken over
the last year by the Executive, FSA, the Health and Safety
Executive (HSE), NHS Health Scotland, the Scottish Centre
for Infection and Environmental Health, and many
others.
Addressing the 5th International Symposium on "Shiga
Toxin (Verocytotoxin) - Producing Escherichia coli
Infections" (VTEC 2003), which is being held in Edinburgh
from 8-11 June 2003, Scotland's Chief Medical Officer, Dr
Mac Armstrong, said:
"I welcome the progress that has been made on
implementing the recommendation of the Task Force, while
acknowledging that more remains to be done. We cannot be
complacent, but we should recognise that the Scottish
experience of E.coli O157 has required us to be innovative
and committed to enhancing our education and communication,
research, surveillance, and diagnosis, treatment and
care.
"Although E.coli O157 infection is relatively rare in
Scotland compared with other infections, we all know that
it can have very serious consequences, and that it is more
common in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK. That is why I
am delighted that this important scientific conference,
VTEC 2003, is being held in Edinburgh. It is important that
we learn from the pioneering work of the international
experts who have come to Scotland to share their research
and knowledge - and vice-versa."
The publication of the implementation report follows the
publication in 2002 of the Scottish Executive and Food
Standards Agency Response to the Report of the Task Force
on E.coli 0157 and action plan. Key achievements and
developments over the last year include:
By the Scottish Executive:
- issuing guidance on recreational use of animal
pasture to relevant organisations
- raising awareness of E.coli O157 by funding HUSH
(Hemolytic Uraemic Syndrome Help)
- investing in epidemiological research
- funding the Scottish Infection Standards and
Strategy (SISS) Group to develop and disseminate good
practice guidance and educational materials for health
professionals
- regarding incident management, undertaking
consultation on Managing Incidents Presenting Actual or
Potential Risks to the Public Health - Guidance on the
Roles and Responsibilities of Incident Control
Teams
- amending regulations, including the Waste
Management Licensing Regulations 1994, regarding sludge
and organic waste on land
By the Food Standards Agency Scotland:
- undertaking a Food Hygiene Campaign for both
commercial and domestic audiences
- initiating public consultation on revision of the
FSA's Enforcement Codes of Practice
- carrying out a review of butchers' licensing
- developing a strategy to support the Hazard
Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles
which will update EU food hygiene law
By other agencies:
- The Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental
Health (SCIEH) has enhanced its surveillance of E.coli
0157 in Scotland
- NHS Health Scotland has developed and disseminated
hygiene and handwashing materials for Local Authority
Education Departments, young children, teenagers, and
the general public
- The HSE has issued resources for the public,
agencies and farmers on avoiding ill health during
recreation on farmland, risk of contamination from
farms and occupational zoonoses.
Commenting on the VTEC conference, Dr George Paterson,
Director of the Food Standards Agency Scotland added:
"E.coli 0157 is one of the organisms that the agency has
targeted in its foodborne disease reduction strategy. While
E.coli 0157 infection is not just associated with food
contamination, nonetheless, we are delighted to co-sponsor
this important international event focussed on sharing
knowledge and experience of this nasty organism."
The E.coli O157 Task Force was appointed by the Minister
for Health and Community Care in September 2000 under joint
sponsorship of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Scotland and
the Scottish Executive. The Taskforce was established in
the wake of the Central Scotland E.coli outbreak in
1996.
The Scottish Executive/Food Standard Agency's response to
the Task Force was issued in 2002.
There were two large E.coli 0157 outbreaks in Scotland
in 1994 in Lothian and 1996 in central Scotland. The number
of reported E.coli 0157 infections in Scotland fell from
235 in 2001 to 229 in 2002. A study published by SCIEH in
2001 found that the highest risk of infection for sporadic
cases was from contact with farm or other non-domestic
animals and their environment.