Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli outbreak in Germany

ABSTRACT

As of 10 June 2011, the German health authorities have reported 2374 cases of Entero-haemorrhagic Escherichia Coli [EHEC] and 773 cases of Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome [HUS]. There were 22 and 12 related deaths respectively. The outbreak has since spread to 13 other countries in Europe with a total of 66 EHEC cases and 36 HUS cases with one death reported. Three HUS cases linked to this outbreak were reported from the United States. The source of infection for this outbreak is now believed to originate from contaminated bean sprout from a farm in Germany. The outbreak started in early May