VTEC are a group of bacteria which cause illness in humans. The most important VTEC strain to cause illness in the UK is E. coli O157. Symptoms can range from mild gastroenteritis to severe bloody diarrhoea, mostly without fever, through to two serious conditions known as haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura (TTP) that affect the blood, kidneys and in severe cases the central nervous system.

Gastrointestinal infections

This page provides surveillance data on selected gastrointestinal diseases. For information on the symptoms, treatment and reporting of gastrointestinal illness please click here.

For a more detailed analysis of the main gastrointestinal diseases please see the latest annual report under the publications section below.