Warning over 200% rise in lethal E-coli cases

A taskforce has been set up after a 200% increase in the number of a potentially lethal VTEC E-coli infections in Ireland this year.

The HSE confirmed yesterday that 212 cases of the infection were reported in the first six months of the year compared to just 69 cases for the same period last year.

Most of the cases were reported in rural areas, with 48 cases reported in the HSE South region alone.