“It’s important for people to take steps to prevent infection,” said Dr Gauri Godbole, from UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
“If you have any STEC symptoms, like mild to bloody diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and dehydration, wash your hands with soap and warm water and use bleach-based products to clean surfaces.
“Don’t prepare food for others if you have symptoms or for 48 hours after symptoms stop,” Dr Godbole added.
Last year, there were five outbreaks of STEC involving 467 cases across the UK, including 348 in England.
The sources for three of the outbreaks were contaminated beef, fresh fruit and salad leaves.
The largest outbreak was linked to contaminated salad leaves. It resulted in 293 people being infected by this type of E-coli, 126 people needing hospital care and two deaths. Eleven people developed the serious kidney complication, haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS).