EHEC Disease in Europe - Warning

[LL_Travelfan]

An outbreak of Enterohemorrhagic E. Coli, also known as resistant E.Coli bacteria, is spreading in Germany and Europe.

Currently, Germany is experiencing, according to Robert-Koch-Institute of the strongest ever recorded outbreak of EHEC. There were so many patients per week as usual in a year. Two thirds of those people are women. In the latest outbreak at least two women died of evidence by the pathogen. In other cases it is suspected that EHEC is the cause of death. Furthermore, the disease left kidney damage.

According to the news agency dpa until Wednesday evening more than 600 cases were registered, of which, however, not all confirmed - the day before it was still about 460th The number of very serious course of disease is bloody diarrhea and kidney damage, according to RKI risen to at least 214th By Wednesday, 140 serious cases were known.

The focus of the infection is located in Northern Germany. Most affected are currently in Hamburg. For the city-state, Schleswig-Holstein, the authorities reported together more than 400 diseases and suspected cases.

Other countries affected

Meanwhile, are also reported from neighboring countries, first EHEC infections. Thus confirming the Swedish health authorities more than one disorder without mentioning exact figures. The persons concerned had been infected while traveling to Germany. In Denmark, the UK and the Netherlands, the European Union's first people are infected, some of them had already been proven conclusively that it constitutes the pathogen from Germany. The EU now wants Europe-wide call out the alarm level 1. This means that all member countries are encouraged to take steps to protect their populations.

The recommendation is to refrain from eating cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce, specifically from Spain and the Netherlands.

[kyshel]

please site the source of your post--is this a quote from a website? I understand E. coli, as I began working with it in 1970 and the dangers.
Thanks for updating us just give us more than a scare.

[shygirl724]

LL_Tavelfan,

Thanks for the heads up on this. I had not heard about it. It is surprising that the CDC does not refer to it on their website.

Kyshel - I just watched a news report on the same thing. 10 people dead so far. Cucumbers from Spain are suspected. Here is one of the news report links on the story from the Science Insider: Cucumbers May Be Culprit in Massive E. coli Outbreak in Germany - ScienceInsider

Shy ~

[kyshel]

Thanks for the link, Ms. shy. I have family going to Spain for 2 wks early June and I have a trip planned for later that month.
Hopefully it won't be as bad as the '06 outbreak here--50+ dead.

[LL_Travelfan]

You will find more info under Ehec Diseases In Europe | Health Information, Advice For Whole Family
Spain is fighting the "cucumber accusation" since it is raising havoc with the Spanish economy, but in the meantime, there are more outbreaks and deaths reported every day and it has spread into Northern Europe as well. It seems to be affecting mostly women.

[[email protected]]

I just was reading about this and was wondering how you were doing over there!
There is also a bad cholera outbreak in Dominican Republic if anyone is heading over there

[LL_Travelfan]

Hi D,
We are doing well, thank you for asking. We have taken to washing hands more often and we are more careful in our food shopping, avoiding cucumbers and washing foods more carefully. We also avoid salads containing cucumbers in restaurants. We have been traveling quite a bit in the last few weeks and have been eating out more than usual. Fortunately, there have been no outbreaks in Southern Germany that we have become aware of. However, the crisis is still ongoing and the Red Cross and hospitals have been asking for more blood donations. No cure has been found yet.

[bonniejoy03]

Hi. I just returned from lovely Sweden!!! What a trip. I did see some reference on the TV about the E. Coli issue. Seems to be affecting younger women more than other type of people. No special warnings in Gothenburg and Copenhagen. My salads came with veggies. On the last day, I did get a little spooked and took out the cucumbers. They still can't trace the source. They are guessing the Spanish region of Andalusia.

[LL_Travelfan]

Hi bonniejoy,
I am glad to see that you are safely back home. I was thinking of you quite a bit these last few days knowing that you were traveling in Northern Europe. Glad you had a wonderful trip. I imagine you are anxiously awaiting the arrival of your "souvenir".

[bonniejoy03]

Hi LL...You are correct...the car is beautiful!!!! What a great experience. We missed being in Europe. We had spent the 90's travelling there and actually hadn't been there since 2001. Great experience. The car ships in mid-June and we should have a few weeks after.