Morrisons 'link' to bug death

A woman has died and two other people are seriously ill following an E coli outbreak being linked to Morrisons stores in Scotland.The supermarket chain issued a statement, saying it is deeply saddened to hear of the death and other cases, and that cold meats have been withdrawn from the deli counters at stores in Lonend and Falside in Paisley, Renfrewshire.The 72-year-old husband of the dead woman is seriously ill in Glasgow's Victoria Infirmary while a 71-year-old woman is being treated at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.Another family, comprising a woman aged 45, a man aged 46, and their 23-year-old daughter, are recovering at home as is an 86-year-old woman who was diagnosed with the infection.NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGG) said: "The health board's Public Health Protection Unit is working closely with Environmental Health colleagues from Renfrewshire Council, the Food Standards Agency and Health Protection Scotland to identify the source of this infection."There is no conclusive evidence yet but initial investigations have indicated that there may possibly be a link to the consumption of some sliced cold meats bought locally from the delicatessen counters of two Morrisons supermarkets in Paisley, the Lonend store and the Falside Road store."Symptoms of E coli O157 poisoning including stomach cramps, diarrhoea (often bloody), nausea and fever.In 1996 the O157 strain of the bug killed 21 elderly people in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, during the world's worst recorded instance of E coli poisoning.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | August 14, 2007

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