Giuseppe
Emeritus
[Source: Health Protection Agency, United Kingdom, full text: (LINK).]
Update on E. coli outbreak in Germany
13 June 2011
17:00
Since Friday, the German authorities have today reported 22 new cases of Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS), bringing the total to 781.
In addition, a further 218 cases of bloody diarrhoea (VTEC or EHEC infection, caused by E. coli O104) were recorded, bringing the total to 2,447.
Five more people are reported to have died in Germany since Friday ? one from HUS and four from bloody diarrhoea.
The total number of deaths from the outbreak now stands at 36 ? 23 from HUS (22 in Germany, one in Sweden) and 13 from bloody diarrhoea (all in Germany).
One new case of bloody diarrhoea in England possibly linked to the German outbreak has been reported to the HPA today, bringing the total number of cases in the UK to 15 ? three HUS (all England) and 12 bloody diarrhoea (11 cases in England, one in Scotland).
To date, six of these have been microbiologically confirmed. All 15 cases are related to recent travel to Germany.
The German authorities reported on Friday that sprouted seeds such as lentils, alfalfa seeds, fenugreek and adzuki beans, were implicated as the vehicle of infection and the current advice is to avoid eating these in Germany. They are also advising that people no longer need to avoid eating raw tomato, lettuce and cucumber.
The HPA advises travellers to Germany to follow the advice from the German authorities and avoid eating sprouting seeds until further notice. Anyone returning from Germany with illness including bloody diarrhoea should seek urgent medical attention and make sure they mention their recent travel history.
The next HPA update will be on Thursday 16 May.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) is funded by the HPA and healthcare professionals and members of the public can find more information about travel health, including country specific advice, by logging onto their website: www.nathnac.org
For more information about the situation in Germany, visit the Robert Koch Institute's website http://www.rki.de
Updated Q&A on this topic
For information on food safety, visit the Food Standards Agency website:
http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2011/june/outbreak
For media enquiries please contact the national HPA press office at Colindale on 020 8327 7901 or email colindale-pressoffice@hpa.org.uk.. Out of hours the duty press office can be contacted on 020 8200 4400.
- -------13 June 2011
17:00
Since Friday, the German authorities have today reported 22 new cases of Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS), bringing the total to 781.
In addition, a further 218 cases of bloody diarrhoea (VTEC or EHEC infection, caused by E. coli O104) were recorded, bringing the total to 2,447.
Five more people are reported to have died in Germany since Friday ? one from HUS and four from bloody diarrhoea.
The total number of deaths from the outbreak now stands at 36 ? 23 from HUS (22 in Germany, one in Sweden) and 13 from bloody diarrhoea (all in Germany).
One new case of bloody diarrhoea in England possibly linked to the German outbreak has been reported to the HPA today, bringing the total number of cases in the UK to 15 ? three HUS (all England) and 12 bloody diarrhoea (11 cases in England, one in Scotland).
To date, six of these have been microbiologically confirmed. All 15 cases are related to recent travel to Germany.
The German authorities reported on Friday that sprouted seeds such as lentils, alfalfa seeds, fenugreek and adzuki beans, were implicated as the vehicle of infection and the current advice is to avoid eating these in Germany. They are also advising that people no longer need to avoid eating raw tomato, lettuce and cucumber.
The HPA advises travellers to Germany to follow the advice from the German authorities and avoid eating sprouting seeds until further notice. Anyone returning from Germany with illness including bloody diarrhoea should seek urgent medical attention and make sure they mention their recent travel history.
The next HPA update will be on Thursday 16 May.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) is funded by the HPA and healthcare professionals and members of the public can find more information about travel health, including country specific advice, by logging onto their website: www.nathnac.org
For more information about the situation in Germany, visit the Robert Koch Institute's website http://www.rki.de
Updated Q&A on this topic
For information on food safety, visit the Food Standards Agency website:
http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2011/june/outbreak
For media enquiries please contact the national HPA press office at Colindale on 020 8327 7901 or email colindale-pressoffice@hpa.org.uk.. Out of hours the duty press office can be contacted on 020 8200 4400.