Dead Tourist Had E. Coli Strain, Tests Show

[webfact]

Dead tourist had E. coli strain, tests show

By The Nation

Lab tests on samples from a foreigner found dead at an Udon Thani hotel have detected an E. coli strain, but confirmation is pending on whether it was a communicable type, Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Phaijit Warachit said yesterday.

Tests of the unnamed tourist's blood and urine detected a bacteria called Plesiomonas shigelloides, which is capable of causing diarrhoea. It is a type rarely found in humans, but more often in freshwater fish and clams. The cause of death will also be investigated through police forensic work, Phaijit said.

E. coli is a bacteria common in the intestinal ducts of human and cattle. It is helpful in digestion, but a strain spreading in Europe now is communicable and has caused deaths and sickness in many countries.

A policeman who inspected the tourist's room had diarrhoea and is now recovering.

His symptoms initially sparked fears of an outbreak since he had searched the tourist's body and touched his passport.

Phaijit said the unnamed officer was fine now and merely suffering from normal diarrhoea.

A total of 25 people, including hotel maids and staff and waiting staff at a restaurant where the tourist had a meal, have been put under surveillance after physical examination.

So far, none have shown symptoms of disease. Public health officials will monitor them until June 30.

The tourist, reportedly an elderly Western man, checked in at the unspecified hotel in Udon Thani some time before June 20, when he was found dead.

-- The Nation 2011-06-24

related topic:

Mystery Death Of British Tourist Sparks E Coli Alarm In Thailand

Follow this link:

[bubba]

So the story's headline is:

Dead tourist had E. coli strain, tests show

But then the story goes in to state:

Lab tests on samples from a foreigner found dead at an Udon Thani hotel have detected an E. coli strain, but confirmation is pending on whether it was a communicable type, Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Phaijit Warachit said yesterday.

Tests of the unnamed tourist's blood and urine detected a bacteria called Plesiomonas shigelloides, which is capable of causing diarrhoea.

While P. shigelloides is in the same family of bacteria (Enterobacteriaceae) as Escherischia coli, P. shigelloides is NOT E. coli, let alone the "deadly strain". Infection by P. shigelloides is mild and self-limiting in most patients, but can develop into a fatal infection in immunocompromised patients. In fact, sometimes it doesn't cause illness at at, being naturally present in in the intestinal flora of up to 3% of a local population.

So did the Health Ministry also detect E. coli in the patient, or is the Nation's story just complete misinformation. If the latter, they should print a retraction since the inaccurate information will no doubt create a lot of groundless public concern, causing them to believe that the deadly O104:H4 strain of E. coli ("German E. Coli")is now spreading through Thailand.

Edited June 24, 2011 by bubba

[bubba]

Just reading through this again and noted:

Tests of the unnamed tourist's blood and urine detected a bacteria called Plesiomonas shigelloides,

If they detected P. shigelloides (a gut bacterium) in the patient's blood and urine, then the patient was in complete septicemia, meaning the bacteria had spread throughout his body. From what I know, this would only happen in patients with defective immune systems or else in very poor health indeed. Would be interesting to know whether they performed an HIV test on the patient.

[Sateev]

Just reading through this again and noted:

Tests of the unnamed tourist's blood and urine detected a bacteria called Plesiomonas shigelloides,

If they detected P. shigelloides (a gut bacterium) in the patient's blood and urine, then the patient was in complete septicemia, meaning the bacteria had spread throughout his body. From what I know, this would only happen in patients with defective immune systems or else in very poor health indeed. Would be interesting to know whether they performed an HIV test on the patient.

Should have noted that they DIDN'T say the bacteria were in the deceased blood or urine, but that tests detected the bacteria. The way they are routinely detected is by antibodies, which are (of course) found in the blood, and urine..

It's also useful to note that a percentage of asymptomatic individuals also have antibodies to Plesiomonas shigelloides, making the antibody test less than definitive for the disease.

The wording of the headline is purely sensationalist, in keeping with the publication's and this website's prime directive: drive clicks, make money.

Better re-open that "Brain Surgery, Self-Taught" text again, Bubba, and pay attention to the section on immunology. What? There isn't one? Oh well...

[sirchai]

Phaijit said the unnamed officer was fine now and merely suffering from normal diarrhoea.

The hub of DIARRHEA?

[bubba]

Just reading through this again and noted:

Tests of the unnamed tourist's blood and urine detected a bacteria called Plesiomonas shigelloides,

If they detected P. shigelloides (a gut bacterium) in the patient's blood and urine, then the patient was in complete septicemia, meaning the bacteria had spread throughout his body. From what I know, this would only happen in patients with defective immune systems or else in very poor health indeed. Would be interesting to know whether they performed an HIV test on the patient.

Should have noted that they DIDN'T say the bacteria were in the deceased blood or urine, but that tests detected the bacteria. The way they are routinely detected is by antibodies, which are (of course) found in the blood, and urine..

It's also useful to note that a percentage of asymptomatic individuals also have antibodies to Plesiomonas shigelloides, making the antibody test less than definitive for the disease.

The wording of the headline is purely sensationalist, in keeping with the publication's and this website's prime directive: drive clicks, make money.

Better re-open that "Brain Surgery, Self-Taught" text again, Bubba, and pay attention to the section on immunology. What? There isn't one? Oh well...

Sateev - The article stated:

Tests of the unnamed tourist's blood and urine detected a bacteria called Plesiomonas shigelloides

They detected a bacteria [sic] in the patient's blood and urine. They did not specify that they detected antibodies.

Your closing sentence does not deserve comment.

[renaissanc]

You can get rid of eColi with a few drops daily of M.M.S. activated by lime juice. You can make it by buying the sodium chlorite powder on Rachadamnern Road, Bangkok. Doctors and pharmaceutical companies won't tell you this as there's no money for them to make from it. M.M.S. gets rid of many pathogens, toxins, bacteria, etc. in the blood. It's a shame that people don't know about it. It's a simple cure for malaria too.

[Payboy]

Dead tourist had E. coli strain, tests show

Guess those border checks didn't work then.

[QED]

You can get rid of eColi with a few drops daily of M.M.S. activated by lime juice. You can make it by buying the sodium chlorite powder on Rachadamnern Road, Bangkok. Doctors and pharmaceutical companies won't tell you this as there's no money for them to make from it. M.M.S. gets rid of many pathogens, toxins, bacteria, etc. in the blood. It's a shame that people don't know about it. It's a simple cure for malaria too.

I read about this a while back. Does a twist of lime in beer count? If so I must be verrry healthy

[anterian]

Whilst the medical opinions of members is contradictory, it does seem that there is agreement that the deceased had a compromised immune system. I have found that since taking echinacea daily, I have had no viral or bacterial infection for the last ten years. This plant extract boosts the body's natural immune system.

[exbelg]

maybe, just maybe, next time, the police officer MIGHT consider wearing gloves, just might, not sure yet

[Zolt]

Bubba and Sateev, no need for a flame war when you are both right. If anything's gotta be criticized it's the accuracy of the OP, Bubba's comments were right to the point, so sateev's last line was totally uncalled for.

Don't forget that Nation journalists aren't trained in scientific rigor or in medicine. They just repeat the same BS they are told.

The interesting question is whether they did indeed find actual bacteria in the blood samples (which would be highly uncommon, normal lab protocols wouldn't even test for that) or antibodies. If the former, then the guy must have had serious immunological problems to begin with. If not, then it would be high time to have a close look at the local intensive farming of shrimp and fish and the safety standards on it.

Again, misleading title as this has nothing to do in fact with E.Coli.

[Ulysses G.]

You can get rid of eColi with a few drops daily of M.M.S. activated by lime juice. You can make it by buying the sodium chlorite powder on Rachadamnern Road, Bangkok. Doctors and pharmaceutical companies won't tell you this as there's no money for them to make from it. M.M.S. gets rid of many pathogens, toxins, bacteria, etc. in the blood. It's a shame that people don't know about it. It's a simple cure for malaria too.

I always get suspicious when people start raving about Doctors covering up cures to make more money.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to take Miracle Mineral Solution, an oral liquid also known as "Miracle Mineral Supplement" or "MMS." The product, when used as directed, produces an industrial bleach that can cause serious harm to health.

The FDA has received several reports of health injuries from consumers using this product, including severe nausea, vomiting, and life-threatening low blood pressure from dehydration.

Consumers who have MMS should stop using it immediately and throw it away.

http://www.quackwatch.org/02ConsumerProtection/FDAActions/mms.html

Edited June 24, 2011 by Ulysses G.

[bunta71]

You can get rid of eColi with a few drops daily of M.M.S. activated by lime juice. You can make it by buying the sodium chlorite powder on Rachadamnern Road, Bangkok. Doctors and pharmaceutical companies won't tell you this as there's no money for them to make from it. M.M.S. gets rid of many pathogens, toxins, bacteria, etc. in the blood. It's a shame that people don't know about it. It's a simple cure for malaria too.

I always get suspicious when people start raving about Doctors covering up cures to make more money.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to take Miracle Mineral Solution, an oral liquid also known as "Miracle Mineral Supplement" or "MMS." The product, when used as directed, produces an industrial bleach that can cause serious harm to health.

The FDA has received several reports of health injuries from consumers using this product, including severe nausea, vomiting, and life-threatening low blood pressure from dehydration.

Consumers who have MMS should stop using it immediately and throw it away.

http://www.quackwatc...ctions/mms.html

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/05/24/american-cancer-society--more-interested-in-wealth-than-health.aspx

Hey George...Virgin coconut oil Jack here. Long time no see. Here is an interesting arcticle if you can keep an open mind. Doctors covering up natural cures is what they are all about and the evidence nowdays is overwhelming. This arcticle is written by a Doctor who got tired of injuring and killing people. I realize your mind is made up on these things but still informative reading. " A person persuaded against his will is of the same opinion still.."

[Ulysses G.]

Hey George...Virgin coconut oil Jack here. Long time no see. Here is an interesting arcticle if you can keep an open mind. Doctors covering up natural cures is what they are all about and the evidence nowdays is overwhelming. This arcticle is written by a Doctor who got tired of injuring and killing people. I realize your mind is made up on these things but still informative reading. " A person persuaded against his will is of the same opinion still.."

I'm not sure what you mean about keeping an open mind. I have been interested in holistic health for decades. However, there are a lot of charlatans out there and no, I do not believe that medical doctors want us to have cancer, so that they can make a lot of money off of it - especially since they often get cancer too and treat it with drugs.

By the way, I could not get past the advertisement that blocked your article or I would have read it.