WHO says German E. coli outbreak is new strain as death toll hits 18

[News_Editor]

WHO says German E. coli outbreak is new strain as death toll hits 18

2011-06-02 19:28:49 GMT+7 (ICT)

GENEVA (BNO NEWS) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday said the mysterious E. coli outbreak in Europe is being caused by a new strain. Meanwhile, the overall death toll has risen to 18.

The outbreak of the Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia Coli (EHEC) bacteria began in Germany in May when hundreds of people suddenly fell ill. Most of the fatalities, all but one in Germany, have been caused by a rare kidney failure complication known as haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS).

On Thursday, WHO said the outbreak is the result of a new, never before seen strain of E. coli. This strain is suspected to be a mutant form of two different E. coli bacteria, which could explain the severity of one of the largest E. coli outbreaks on record.

"Numerous investigations are continuing into the cause of the outbreak, which is still unclear," WHO said in a statement, adding that it is regularly updating its member states about the outbreak. "WHO does not recommend any trade restrictions related to this outbreak."

On Wednesday, the European Union ruled out Spanish cucumbers as a possible source of the outbreak after several countries had carried out tests on cucumber samples from Spain. While cucumbers from other countries could still be the source, some experts have also pointed to salad as a possible source.

According to the most recent figures, the outbreak has so far killed 17 people in Germany and one in Sweden. In addition, at least 1,614 people have fallen ill, nearly all of them in Germany. Dozens of cases have also been reported in the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom and other European countries, but most victims have recently traveled to Germany.

In August 1996, an outbreak of E. coli serotype O157:H7 in Japan sickened at least 9,578 people, most of them children. A total of 11 people died as a result of the outbreak, which was likely caused by radish sprouts.

And in May 2000, seven people were killed and more than 2,300 people were sickened after E. coli strain O157 polluted drinking water in the Canadian town of Walkerton.

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