ABSTRACT
Most of the cases of VTEC O157 reported in the UK and the USA and Canada are sporadic, yet information on the sources of VTEC O157 has been predominantly obtained from outbreak investigations. Large outbreaks in particular attract much media and public interest and changes to public health policy may follow. These changes may not necessarily reduce the number of sporadic cases where additional risk factors may play an important role. Data on the sources of sporadic infection with VTEC are limited.
