UPDATE ON LARGE OUTBREAK OF E. COLI - 3 JUNE 2011

The Robert Koch Institute in Germany (www.rki.de) have confirmed that the number of cases of HUS in Germany has risen to 520, with 11 reported deaths. They have also confirmed 1,213 cases of bloody diarrhoea (VTEC or EHEC infection), related to the outbreak of E. coli O104), with 6 deaths – bringing the total number of official reported deaths in Germany to 17.

In their latest press release the Institute states that reports that this outbreak contaions a new and unknown strain of E.Coli are incorrect.

The HPA can confirm four new cases of bloody diarrhoea in England suspected to be related to this outbreak. All new cases are related to recent travel to Germany. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) have issued a joint statement on the outbreak, available here

This brings the total number of cases in England to eleven – three HUS and eight bloody diarrhoea.
There are no reports of any secondary infections in England. To limit the infection being transmitted from person to person, practicing good hand hygiene is very important.
 
The public health advice from the HPA remains the same – travellers to Germany should to follow the advice of the German authorities and avoid eating raw tomatoes, cucumbers and leafy salad including lettuce, especially in the north of the country, until further notice. In addition anyone returning from Germany with illness including bloody diarrhoea should seek urgent medical attention and make sure they mention their recent travel history.

Source: Robert Koch Institute / Health Protection Agency / BFR

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