Close Watch On E. Coli To Prevent Outbreak In Thailand

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E COLI

Close watch on E coli to prevent outbreak

By PONGPHON SARNSAMAK

THE NATION

Passengers returning from 11 European countries should undergo immediate medical treatment if they develop acute diarrhoea containing blood and/or acute renal failure, as they could be infected with the deadly E coli type O104 which is spreading across Europe, the Public Health Ministry said yesterday.

The Disease Control Department insisted, however, that to date there had been no reported Thai cases of people having been infected with the new strain.

Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said he had instructed the ministry's officials to prepare measures to cope with any local outbreak of the disease.

The ministry has already come up with four measures aimed at surveillance and the prevention of an outbreak.

It will distribute leaflets to explain self-care and prevention for passengers returning from 11 European countries, and in particular from Germany.

Those who develop acute diarrhoea containing blood and/or |acute kidney failure within a week of returning from Europe should receive an immediate blood transfusion, as type-O104 bacteria destroy the body's blood platelets.

There are reports that the E coli outbreak is attributed to changes in environment, which have contaminated food and agricultural products.

People who have eaten these contaminated foods will suffer from acute diarrhoea and frequent vomiting, causing their kidneys to function abnormally, and with some patients dying within three or four days of being infected.

The outbreak of the type-O104 strain in Europe, where it is most prevalent in Germany, is believed to have originated from poor hygiene at a farm, in transit, or in a shop or food outlet.

In addition to Germany, cases of E coli poisoning have been reported in Austria, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

In Germany, there were reports that 17 people who had eaten at a restaurant in the northern city of Luebeck had fallen ill, but local officials were sceptical this was due to the E coli outbreak, Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported on Saturday.

The Public Health Ministry has decided not to set up checkpoints at Suvarnabhumi Airport to screen for passengers who might be carrying the infection, deeming that the introduction of such a strict measure would adversely affect international relations.

"We are sure that our measures are good enough to prevent |any spread of the disease," said permanent secretary Dr Paijit Warachit.

Another of the ministry's measures is to instruct hospitals nationwide to collect specimens from any patients who develop E coli type-O104 symptoms, and to send them to the Medical Science Department for surveillance of the infection in the country.

Jurin has also instructed the Food and Drug Administration to collect samples from imported fruit and vegetables from Europe.

FDA secretary-general Dr PipatbYingseri said that to date the agency had collected samples from imported avocados, raspberries, apples and broccoli. The samples will be sent to the MSD for laboratory testing.

MSD deputy director-general Dr Prathom Sawanpanyalerd said the department had so far received only two samples from the FDA for testing. Results are expected in the next few days.

-- The Nation 2011-06-07

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Thai Public Health Ministry steps up measures against E. Coli threat

BANGKOK – Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has issued four measures to prevent the spread of the deadly E. Coli bacteria as the disease has claimed at least 22 lives, mostly in Germany, and one death in Sweden.

After a public health meeting on Monday, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said E. Coli O104 is the most severe strain of all five E. Coli strains as it can dissolve red blood cell and cause kidney failure.

Permanent Secretary for Public Health Paijit Warachit said in a severe case, blood transfusion is performed in the treatment of this deadly disease which is contracted by eating contaminated food and water.

The ministry’s measures against the E.Coli include educating tourists from the European Union at the international communicable disease control checkpoint at the airport and have them fill out health information and meet doctors they fall ill.

For the public, the ministry urges them to eat freshly-cooked food, to wash hands before meals and using serving spoons.

Moreover, government and private hospitals must apply the same standard in screening patients with bloody diarrhea and a record of travelling back from European Union countries within one week.

The Department of Disease Control is the main mechanism in supervising prevention measures, he added.

Imported food from Europe checked at random is another of the ministry’s four measures.

Secretary-General Dr Pipat Yingseri of Thailand's Food and Drug Administration said the ministry’s random checks on imported fruit and vegetables, including apples, raspberries, tomatoes, mushroom, kiwi fruit, avocadoes, parsley and celery from European Union countries since June 2 have found no irregularities.

Most fruit and vegetables from Europe emanate from France and Italy followed by Belgium.

European farming ministers will hold emergency talks Tuesday in Luxembourg on the E. Coli outbreak, a spokesman for the European Union's current Hungarian chair told AFP. The outbreak has killed at least 22 persons and has left some 2,000 people ill across Europe. (MCOT online news, Agencies)

-- TNA 2011-06-07

[OzMick]

"............. is believed to have originated from poor hygiene at a farm, in transit, or in a shop or food outlet."

When it has spread to 10 countries, you might think there is something a little more complicated going on there.

"The Public Health Ministry has decided not to set up checkpoints at Suvarnabhumi Airport to screen for passengers who might be carrying the infection.............."

If they did, what would they look for?

[Payboy]

Close watch on E coli

Nothing gets beyond Thai customs officials.

[anterian]

"............. is believed to have originated from poor hygiene at a farm, in transit, or in a shop or food outlet."

When it has spread to 10 countries, you might think there is something a little more complicated going on there.

"The Public Health Ministry has decided not to set up checkpoints at Suvarnabhumi Airport to screen for passengers who might be carrying the infection.............."

If they did, what would they look for?

A brown patch on the back of their trousers I would guess

[koto]

"............. is believed to have originated from poor hygiene at a farm, in transit, or in a shop or food outlet."

When it has spread to 10 countries, you might think there is something a little more complicated going on there.

"The Public Health Ministry has decided not to set up checkpoints at Suvarnabhumi Airport to screen for passengers who might be carrying the infection.............."

If they did, what would they look for?

A brown patch on the back of their trousers I would guess

Or red