Signs you’ve been infected by contaminated wet wipes as warning issued after death of six people
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has outlined the signs you’ve been infected by contaminated wet wipes after an urgent warning was issued following the deaths of six people.
At least six deaths have been linked to using potentially contaminated skin cleansing wipes in the United Kingdom since 2018, according to a study in the journal Eurosurveillance.
The strain of bacteria - Burkholderia stabilis - can, in the most serious cases, lead to sepsis and death.
The UKHSA writes: "There have been 59 confirmed cases in an outbreak of Burkholderia stabilis identified in the United Kingdom from 2018 and up to 3 February 2026, associated with several non-sterile alcohol-free wipe products."
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The patients were aged between 0 and 93, and 15 of them were aged 19 or younger.
Burkholderia are a type of bacteria found naturally in the environment, including in soil and water. While many people never encounter problems with this type of bacteria, it can cause serious infections in certain circumstances, particularly among vulnerable individuals.
Of the 59 confirmed cases, in 39 people the bacteria were found in their blood, and in 16, it was found in a wound. 31 victims have been hospitalised, and 13 had weakened immune systems.
There were also three instances of cases sharing a common healthcare provider or services.
Symptoms of Burkholderia stabilis infection to look out for
The UKHSA also outlined exactly what the symptoms are of Burkholderia stabilis, noting that infection can vary depending on the site and severity of infection.
They are as follows:
- Symptoms of a wound infection can include redness, swelling, increased pain, warmth around a wound or break in skin, and pus or other drainage from the wound/break in skin
- Symptoms of infection involving an intravenous line can include signs such as redness, swelling, or pain around the insertion site and/or fever and chills
- In more serious cases, symptoms associated with bloodstream infection (sepsis). Sepsis has many possible symptoms, which can be found on the NHS website
"If you have concerns about a wound that isn't healing properly or you develop a fever following an injury, contact NHS 111 immediately," UKHSA warned.
Wet wipe brands found to be contaminated with Burkholderia stabilis
Almost 200 products were tested, and officials discovered the bacteria in the four brands of skin cleansing wipes, which 'originated from the same UK manufacturing site'.
The experts warned: "The B. stabilis outbreak is ongoing and associated with non-sterile alcohol-free skin cleansing wipes."
The UKHSA outlines that the non-sterile alcohol-free wipes were not marketed as general-use wet wipes or as baby wipes.
The wipes may be found individually packaged in small sachets in some first aid kits, and while the affected products have been withdrawn from sale, some may still be found in first aid kits or in people's homes.
These products include:
- ValueAid Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes
- Microsafe Moist Wipe Alcohol Free
- Steroplast Sterowipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes
- Reliwipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes (testing revealed contamination with a Burkholderia strain not related to the outbreak cases)
"If you have any of these products, stop using them immediately and dispose of them in standard household waste. It is important to only use wipes marked as 'sterile' on broken skin such as wounds, scratches, or where you can see blood - this reduces the chances of germs getting into the body and causing infections," the health body adds.
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Rhiannon Ingle