Pathogens can move through a family quickly. Once a foodborne bug gets into a home (and its toilets) others are at increased risk of illness. My Campylobacter saga ended with a secondary case in our household – Jack (who was 14 months old) got sick about 10 days after I did. Fortunately neither of us had any long-term effects.

There’s a bunch of E. coli O55 in Dorset (UK); at least ten were ill last year with the rare STEC and no source was identified.

BBC reports that a Dorset family is dealing with two children who have been diagnosed with HUS, also linked to E. coli O55.

Public Health England (PHE) said they were from the same family as two children being treated in hospital for serious kidney problems following E. coli 055.

PHE has informed schools and workplaces linked to the household. Results on another possible case are awaited.

The two children are currently in hospital with haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) – a complication of E coli infection.

Ten people in the Blandford area of Dorset were diagnosed with E. coli 055 between July and November 2014.

A further two cases were identified in Portland, four in Bournemouth and Poole as well as three cases outside the county which had links to people from Dorset.

Nursery children were among those infected with the bacterial illness, which can lead to kidney problems in some cases.