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EHEC outbreak: Update 9 (WHO, June 6 2011, edited)

Giuseppe

Emeritus
[Source: World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Europe, full text: (LINK).]

EHEC outbreak: Update 9



06-06-2011


The outbreak remains primarily centred in Germany, and investigations continue into the nature of the unusual E. coli bacteria serotype and its source.


Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS)

As of 05 June 15:00 CET, Germany had reported 630 cases of HUS (including 15 fatal). This is three more than the previous day.

70% of cases are females and 89% adults aged 20 years or older, with the highest attack rates per 100 000 population in the 20-49 age groups. Case onset dates for HUS range from 1 May to 2 June.


Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC)

As of 05 June 15:00 CET, 1601 cases of EHEC infections (without HUS) had been reported in Germany (6 fatal).

This is 65 more from the previous day. 62% of cases are females and 88% adults aged 20 years or older. Case onset dates for EHEC range from 1 May to 3 June.

Because of notification and transmission delays, the observed decrease in notified case numbers since May 23 cannot be considered as evidence for decreasing outbreak activity.


Other countries

As of 05 June 18:00 CET, altogether 31 HUS (one fatal) and 73 EHEC cases (no fatalities), respectively have been reported from 12 other European countries:
[Country - HUS - EHEC]
  1. Austria - 0 - 2
  2. Czech Republic - 0 - 1
  3. Denmark - 7 - 11
  4. France ? 0 - 10
  5. Luxembourg - 0 - 1
  6. Netherlands - 4 - 4
  7. Norway - 0 ? 1
  8. Poland - 1 - 0
  9. Spain ? 1 - 1
  10. Sweden - 15 - 31
  11. Switzerland - 0 - 3
  12. United Kingdom - 3 - 8
In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, United States of America, had earlier published information on 2 cases of HUS in the United States linked to this outbreak.

All except one of the above HUS and EHEC cases had travelled to or from Germany during the incubation period for infection, typically 3 to 4 days post-exposure (range 2-10 days).

An increasing number of cases are laboratory confirmed as EHEC serotype O104:H4, or more precisely a strain of enteroaggregative Verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (EAggEC VTEC) O104:H4.

Investigations continue into the source of the outbreak.


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.
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