A number of cases of E. coli O157 in travelers returning from Benidorm – province of Alicante, community of Valencia – in Spain are being investigated by the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

The HPA is aware of 14 confirmed cases of the gastrointestinal infection.

All the confirmed cases are adults and 4 people are known to have been admitted to hospital after returning to the UK have been discharged. The agency is working with the Spanish health authorities to investigate the cases of the illness.

The HPA will conduct interviews with those people affected in the UK to help identify a possible source. After being infected by the _E. coli_ bacterium, it usually takes 3 to 4 days before symptoms develop, but it can be between 1 and 14 days.

The HPA is advising any travelers who have recently returned from Benidorm and who suspect that they may have the _E. coli_ O157 infection to contact their doctor as soon as possible. The agency also said in a statement that as the source of infection has not yet been identified, it is possible that future cases of _E. coli_ O157 linked to the Spanish resort may be identified in the coming weeks.