E coli outbreak
As of this afternoon, three of the now 7 known UK cases involved in a recent outbreak in Germany of a rare strain of E coli have developed haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), a rare and severe kidney complication that destroys red blood cells and can affect the brain and spinal cord, and the entire central nervous system. All 7 of the cases identified in the UK are people who recently visited Germany and it is believed they were contaminated while there. The 18th victim of the outbreak, an 81 year old woman, died today in a German hospital. It is estimated that some 2,000 people in ten countries have been infected with this particularly dangerous strain of the bacteria, which was previously unknown. The source: contaminated vegetables.
Great Britain is advising all of its citizens to avoid eating fresh raw vegetables while visiting Germany, especially in the north part of the country. People who have recently returned from Germany who show symptoms of E coli infection should immediately seek medical attention. Many of the sickened have had to undergo blood plasma transfusions. The strain was identified as a new strain after genetic sequencing of sample bacterium turned up no existing matches. This strain, believed to be a mutant variant of another strain of E coli, is more virulent and produces more toxins than previously known strains.
Another mystery is that for some reason, young children appear to have some immunity to this outbreak. Further, it is resistant to antibiotics, which will make treating the ill all the more difficult. Early on in the outbreak, it was rumored that the vegetables, mainly cucumbers, lettuce, and tomatoes from Spain, were what had sickened hundreds of Germans. When it was later found that the Spanish vegetables were not contaminated, Spain considered suing Germany for damages caused by loss in economy shortly after that scare. Angry Spanish farmers responded by dumping 300 kilos of fresh produce at the door of Germany’s Valencia consulate to send a strong message.
In an effort to stave off infections among its people, Russia has issued a general ban on all fruits and vegetables from the European Union, where cases of the E Coli strain have been found in the Czech Republic, France, Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, and Austria. Meanwhile, efforts to pinpoint the exact source of the outbreak continue to be fruitless. We will keep you updated on this situation. Just be careful. Unfortunately, nothing, not even the best house alarm, can protect your family from bad food. Use caution when eating out.
