UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned UK households not to use four brands of skin cleansing wipes “under any circumstances”.
Wet wipe warning for UK households after 6 deaths and 62 struck down
A wet wipe warning has been issued after SIX were left dead with 62 struck down by potentially life-threatening bacteria. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned UK households not to use four brands of skin cleansing wipes “under any circumstances”.
The warning from the UKHSA comes amid fears they could harbour a deadly bacteria. There was still “an ongoing risk of infection associated with their use” and the bacteria burkholderia stabilis (B. stabilis), they added.
Now, reporting the outbreak in the journal Eurosurveillance, UKHSA experts said: “As of February 2026, 59 confirmed cases and three probable cases have been identified.
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“Five confirmed and one probable case died within 30 days of detection of B. stabilis. One death was attributed to their Burkholderia infection.”
After testing almost 200 products, officials discovered B. stabilis in four brands of skin cleansing wipes intended for first aid.
Three of the four “originated from the same UK manufacturing site”, they said.
They added: “The B. stabilis outbreak is ongoing and associated with non-sterile alcohol-free skin cleansing wipes.”
Dr James Elston, consultant in epidemiology and public health at UKHSA, said: “We are reminding the public not to use, and to dispose of, certain non-sterile alcohol-free wipes which have been linked to an outbreak of Burkholderia stabilis.
“The overall risk to the public remains very low, and affected products have been withdrawn from sale.
“However, we are continuing to see a small number of cases in vulnerable patients, and we are now aware of one associated death.
“Non-sterile alcohol-free wipes, of any type or brand, should not be used for the treatment of injuries, wounds, or broken skin; and they should never be used to clean intravenous lines.”
The four products, which should not be used under any circumstances, are:
ValueAid Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes
Microsafe Moist Wipe Alcohol Free
Steroplast Sterowipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes
Reliwipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes (testing revealed contamination with a Burkholderia strain not related to the outbreak)