Posted By Eamon Murtagh Can the e-coli virus become airborne or is the only form of infection by way of contact with infected faeces (animal or human), eating uncooked food, drinking contaminated water or inadequate personal hygiene.

Posted By Kate Graham Like most bacteria it likes being in water so that is a possible route but I've never heard of it being airborne. It lives naturally and usually harmlessly in your gut. It's not a virus by the way. Kate

Posted By Bill Elliott Yes it can become airborne - as Kate has indicated - it likes water and can therefore be transferred in water droplets. however, it is generally found in greatest proportion in human sewage (but animal too), water and raw meat. Uncooked food should not be a problem as long as personal hygiene is addressed adequately and the water used for washing fruit, salads etc is chlorinated. Undercooked food may be a problem, particularly those foods made up of reformed or processed meat eg beefburgers, sausages - as the e coli normally "hitches a ride" on the external surface of meats and would be killed in the cooking process - however if you mix up the outside of the meat and blend it all together , as you would in mince, the bacteria are then "throughout" - undercooking may not then kill all the bacteria.

Posted By Sean Fraser You might be interested in the following: http://www.food.gov.uk/hygcampaign/abugslife/ It has info on E.Coli 0157 specifically but is useful for general advice regarding bacteria contamination and causing illness