In the recent past, at least a few thousand people all over Europe have been infected by a highly toxic strain of E. coli. The rare but highly virulent strain has caused more than a dozen deaths in Germany, where the outbreak is believed to have started. One person died of the infection in Sweden. A number of people in the UK, US, Denmark, Austria, Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland have also been struck by the infection.
Currently, the outbreak is centered in Germany where more than a thousand victims are suffering from bloody diarrhea and complications in the kidney. Surveys show that the outbreak has mainly affected adults, with two-thirds of patients being adult females. The current outbreak is unusual as it seems to be sparing young children. The nature of food that is behind the outbreak could be the reason for this interesting and unusual trend.
What is E. coli?
E. coli is a kind of bacteria that is found in the human intestines. Most kinds of the bacteria are harmless although some strains can make people sick. Some of the more virulent strains can lead to death due to kidney problems.
E. coli infections are transmitted through food that contains the bacteria. Typically, infections may be cured in 10-15 days. However, the strain of E.coli found in Germany causes a deadly condition called haemolytic uraemic syndrome, which impacts the kidneys and the blood. What makes the current strain particularly virulent is its resistance to antibiotics, which makes treatment highly complicated and difficult. According to the Health protection Agency, this infectious strain could possibly be a new variant of the infectious but rare O104 strain.
What is the source of the current infection?
According to scientists, salad vegetables like bean sprouts from Germany could be the source of the infection, although WHO warns that the actual cause of the outbreak still remains unknown because lab tests on these sprouts have returned negative.
Common symptoms to look out for:
The most common symptoms include nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. People may also experience stomach cramps, loss of appetite, fever, bloody stools, muscle pain and chills.
Overcoming risks
Although there has been a slowing down in the spread of infection, the speed of the outbreak emphasizes the importance of taking simple precautionary measures that could prevent the spread of the deadly bacteria.
Some of the measures to prevent E.coli infection include:
- Washing fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consumption
- Washing hands carefully before handling food
- People traveling to places that have experienced the outbreak should avoid eating tomatoes, cucumbers and leafy salads like lettuce.
- Peel fruits and vegetables
- Cook food thoroughly
- Chopping boards must be kept clean.
- Ensure good hygiene to prevent person-to-person spreading of infection
- Care must be taken to ensure that children observe complete hygiene.
