Probe launched in UK following death of five patients after eating sandwiches in hospitals – Xinhua

LONDON, June 15 (Xinhua) – Health officials in England have opened an urgent investigation following the deaths of five patients in hospitals after eating sandwiches and salads.

According to Public Health England (PHE), five other patients, seriously ill in hospitals, suffer from listeriosis related to the current epidemic.

Initially, three patients would have died in Manchester and Liverpool hospitals, but in an update Friday afternoon, PHE said the number had gone up to five.

A multi-stakeholder survey was opened on listeriosis cases related to sandwiches and salads served in hospitals.

Health Secretary Matt Hanbad said in a statement that he had instructed the National Health Service (NHS) to conduct a comprehensive review of hospital food.

"This problem is of great concern to me and I strongly believe that we need a radical new approach to the food served in our NHS – staff, patients and families deserve so much better," he said. he declares.

PHE badyzes known listeriosis cases in the last two months to determine if they are related to the current outbreak.

PHE said that the affected sandwiches and salads had been removed from hospitals related to listeria infections after identifying the first victims.

NHS organizations, such as hospitals, have been asked not to provide any food products from Good Food Chain to vulnerable patients.

"Sandwiches and patient-related salads were removed and the supplier, The Good Food Chain, voluntarily stopped production while the investigation was continuing," said PHE.

"This company had been sourced meat produced by North Country Cooked Meats, which subsequently gave positive results to the test of the epidemic strain of listeria.This company and the North Country Quality Foods products they distribute have also voluntarily stopped production "

Dr. Nick Phin, expert at PHE, said: "To date, no patient related to this incident has been involved outside of this organization, but we are continuing our investigations." Rapid steps have been taken to protect patients and the risks to the public are low PHE continues to badyze all recent and ongoing listeria samples from hospitalized patients to understand if their disease is related to this outbreak. "