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EHEC Outbreaks, update 25: new VTEC clusters in France and Sweden (WHO, June 28 2011): 4022 HUS/EHEC cases and 49 deaths in total
[Source: World Health Organization, full page: (LINK). Edited.]
EHEC Outbreaks, update 25: new VTEC clusters in France and Sweden
28-06-2011
On 24 June 2011, France reported an outbreak of verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC)/HUS, with 8 cases in adults (6 women and 2 men). E. coli O104:H4 has been confirmed in 3 cases.
On 28 June, Sweden reported a confirmed case of E. coli O104:H4 in southern Sweden in an adult male.
None of the cases in France or Sweden had a history of travel to Germany.
Investigations are ongoing, but initial findings suggest that locally-grown bean or seed sprouts might be involved.
Intensive trace back is under way to identify a possible common source of the German, French and Swedish sprout seeds. Other potential vehicles are also under investigation.
EHEC outbreak in Germany
In Germany, the daily numbers of reported cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS)/enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) have steadily decreased since they peaked on 22 May.
Nevertheless, the cumulative numbers of cases from Germany continue to rise, primarily owing to delays in notification.
Investigations by the German authorities indicate that the vehicle of the bacterium responsible for the German outbreak, enteroaggregative verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (EAggEC VTEC) O104:H4, is bean and seed sprouts, and the Robert Koch Institute has warned people in Germany not to eat raw sprouts of any origin.
The table below shows reported cases of and deaths from HUS and EHEC infections in Germany and in other countries with history of travel to northern Germany, as of 28 June at 18:00 CET.
[Country ? HUS, cases ? deaths / EHEC, cases ? deaths ? Comments]
In Germany, the latest date of onset of bloody diarrhoea is 22 June for HUS cases and 22 June for EHEC cases.
All but 5 of the above HUS and EHEC cases were in people who had travelled to or lived in Germany during the incubation period for infection, typically 3?4 days after exposure (range: 2?10 days).
The remaining 5 cases can also be linked to the outbreak in Germany.
In total, there are 4022 HUS and EHEC cases including 49 fatalities, reported by Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Note
EHEC and HUS have exclusive notification categories, so case numbers should not overlap. The figures in any rapidly evolving outbreak, however, are provisional and subject to change for a variety of reasons.
In providing the above information, WHO wishes to recognize the contribution of its Member States, and technical partners such as the European Commission, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and a number of WHO collaborating centres.
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28-06-2011
On 24 June 2011, France reported an outbreak of verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC)/HUS, with 8 cases in adults (6 women and 2 men). E. coli O104:H4 has been confirmed in 3 cases.
On 28 June, Sweden reported a confirmed case of E. coli O104:H4 in southern Sweden in an adult male.
None of the cases in France or Sweden had a history of travel to Germany.
Investigations are ongoing, but initial findings suggest that locally-grown bean or seed sprouts might be involved.
Intensive trace back is under way to identify a possible common source of the German, French and Swedish sprout seeds. Other potential vehicles are also under investigation.
EHEC outbreak in Germany
In Germany, the daily numbers of reported cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS)/enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) have steadily decreased since they peaked on 22 May.
Nevertheless, the cumulative numbers of cases from Germany continue to rise, primarily owing to delays in notification.
Investigations by the German authorities indicate that the vehicle of the bacterium responsible for the German outbreak, enteroaggregative verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (EAggEC VTEC) O104:H4, is bean and seed sprouts, and the Robert Koch Institute has warned people in Germany not to eat raw sprouts of any origin.
The table below shows reported cases of and deaths from HUS and EHEC infections in Germany and in other countries with history of travel to northern Germany, as of 28 June at 18:00 CET.
[Country ? HUS, cases ? deaths / EHEC, cases ? deaths ? Comments]
- Austria - 1 - 0 / 4 - 0
- Canada - 0 - 0 / 1 - 0
- Czech Republic - 0 - 0 / 1 - 0
- Denmark ? 9 - 0 / 13 - 0
- France - 0 - 0 / 2 - 0
- Germany - 838 - 30 / 3063 - 17
- Greece - 0 - 0 / 1 - 0
- Luxembourg - 1 - 0 / 1 - 0
- Netherlands - 4 - 0 / 7 - 0
- Norway - 0 - 0 / 1 - 0
- Poland - 2 - 0 / 1 - 0
- Spain - 1 - 0 / 1 - 0
- Sweden - 18 - 1 / 35 - 0
- Switzerland - 0 - 0 / 5 - 0
- United Kingdom - 3 - 0 / 3 - 0
- United States of America - 4 - 1 / 2 - 0
- Total - 881 - 32 / 3141 - 17
In Germany, the latest date of onset of bloody diarrhoea is 22 June for HUS cases and 22 June for EHEC cases.
All but 5 of the above HUS and EHEC cases were in people who had travelled to or lived in Germany during the incubation period for infection, typically 3?4 days after exposure (range: 2?10 days).
The remaining 5 cases can also be linked to the outbreak in Germany.
In total, there are 4022 HUS and EHEC cases including 49 fatalities, reported by Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Note
EHEC and HUS have exclusive notification categories, so case numbers should not overlap. The figures in any rapidly evolving outbreak, however, are provisional and subject to change for a variety of reasons.
In providing the above information, WHO wishes to recognize the contribution of its Member States, and technical partners such as the European Commission, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and a number of WHO collaborating centres.