Giuseppe
Emeritus
[Source: Health Protection Agency, United Kingdom, full text: (LINK). Edited.]
Update on E. coli outbreak in Germany
23 June 2011
New cases of Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS) and bloody diarrhoea (VTEC or EHEC infection, caused by E. coli O104) in Germany are continuing to decrease this week.
Since our last update on Thursday 16 June, the German authorities have reported 37 new cases of HUS, bringing the total to 823. A further 347 new cases of bloody diarrhoea were reported, bringing the total to 2,865. Four more deaths have been reported in Germany since last Thursday - all from HUS. The total number of deaths from the outbreak now stands at 43 ? 30 from HUS (29 in Germany, one in Sweden) and 13 from bloody diarrhoea (all in Germany).
No new cases of bloody diarrhoea possibly linked to the outbreak have been reported to the HPA since last Thursday.
An alternative diagnosis has been found for one case of bloody diarrhoea previously linked to the outbreak and has subsequently been eliminated from the UK figures. The total number of cases in the UK therefore stands at 17 ? three HUS (all in England) and 14 bloody diarrhoea (13 cases in England, one in Scotland). To date, six of these have been microbiologically confirmed. All 17 cases are related to travel to Germany.
The German authorities have reported that locally grown 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 locally grown sprouted seeds until further notice.
The next HPA update will be on Thursday 30 June 2011.
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.
- ------23 June 2011
New cases of Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS) and bloody diarrhoea (VTEC or EHEC infection, caused by E. coli O104) in Germany are continuing to decrease this week.
Since our last update on Thursday 16 June, the German authorities have reported 37 new cases of HUS, bringing the total to 823. A further 347 new cases of bloody diarrhoea were reported, bringing the total to 2,865. Four more deaths have been reported in Germany since last Thursday - all from HUS. The total number of deaths from the outbreak now stands at 43 ? 30 from HUS (29 in Germany, one in Sweden) and 13 from bloody diarrhoea (all in Germany).
No new cases of bloody diarrhoea possibly linked to the outbreak have been reported to the HPA since last Thursday.
An alternative diagnosis has been found for one case of bloody diarrhoea previously linked to the outbreak and has subsequently been eliminated from the UK figures. The total number of cases in the UK therefore stands at 17 ? three HUS (all in England) and 14 bloody diarrhoea (13 cases in England, one in Scotland). To date, six of these have been microbiologically confirmed. All 17 cases are related to travel to Germany.
The German authorities have reported that locally grown 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 locally grown sprouted seeds until further notice.
The next HPA update will be on Thursday 30 June 2011.
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.