E. coli outbreak may be slowing
Source: Agencies |
June 4, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
NEARLY 200 new cases of E. coli infection were reported in Germany in the first two days of June, the country's disease control center said yesterday, but officials say there are signs the European bacterial outbreak that has killed 18 people could be slowing.
The Robert Koch Institute said that there are now 1,733 people in Germany - the epicenter of the outbreak - who have been sickened, including 520 suffering from a life-threatening complication that can cause kidney failure.
The World Health Organization said that as of May 31, nine other European nations had reported a total of 80 people sick from the bacteria, most of whom had recently visited northern Germany.
While suspicion has fallen on raw tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce as the source of the germ, researchers have been unable to pinpoint the food responsible.
The outbreak is considered the third-largest involving E. coli in recent history, and it is already the deadliest. Twelve people died in a 1996 Japanese outbreak that sickened more than 9,000, and seven died in a Canadian outbreak in 2000.
Kidney specialist Dr Reinhard Brunkhorst, president of the German Nephrology Society, told reporters in Hamburg that hospitals are now seeing fewer new infections reported each day, though he cautioned that "it may be less, but it's not over yet."
"There is no reason for hysteria, because it's not spreading and it's not increasing - it's decreasing," he said.
Researcher Dag Harmsen at the Muenster University Hospital, which has been closely involved in the investigation of the outbreak, said that scientists were hoping to know enough about the E. coli strain by next week to be able to prevent new infections and better treat patients.
The WHO recommends that to avoid food-borne illnesses, people wash their hands, keep raw meat separate from other foods, thoroughly cook their food, and wash fruits and vegetables, especially if eaten raw. Experts also recommend peeling raw fruit and vegetables if possible.
On Thursday, Russia extended a ban on vegetables from Spain and Germany to the entire European Union to try to stop the outbreak spreading east, a move the EU called disproportionate and Italy's farmers denounced as "absurd." No deaths or infections have been reported in Russia.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero to push for EU help for affected farmers, her spokesman said.
Merkel, however, defended the decision of Hamburg officials to announce their suspicions that Spanish cucumbers were a possible source of the outbreak. The warning was given after cucumbers from Spain tested positive for E. coli, but further tests revealed it was a different strain.
In Torremolinos, Spaniards handed out tons of cucumbers free to the public yesterday in a show of support for farmers.
The Robert Koch Institute said that there are now 1,733 people in Germany - the epicenter of the outbreak - who have been sickened, including 520 suffering from a life-threatening complication that can cause kidney failure.
The World Health Organization said that as of May 31, nine other European nations had reported a total of 80 people sick from the bacteria, most of whom had recently visited northern Germany.
While suspicion has fallen on raw tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce as the source of the germ, researchers have been unable to pinpoint the food responsible.
The outbreak is considered the third-largest involving E. coli in recent history, and it is already the deadliest. Twelve people died in a 1996 Japanese outbreak that sickened more than 9,000, and seven died in a Canadian outbreak in 2000.
Kidney specialist Dr Reinhard Brunkhorst, president of the German Nephrology Society, told reporters in Hamburg that hospitals are now seeing fewer new infections reported each day, though he cautioned that "it may be less, but it's not over yet."
"There is no reason for hysteria, because it's not spreading and it's not increasing - it's decreasing," he said.
Researcher Dag Harmsen at the Muenster University Hospital, which has been closely involved in the investigation of the outbreak, said that scientists were hoping to know enough about the E. coli strain by next week to be able to prevent new infections and better treat patients.
The WHO recommends that to avoid food-borne illnesses, people wash their hands, keep raw meat separate from other foods, thoroughly cook their food, and wash fruits and vegetables, especially if eaten raw. Experts also recommend peeling raw fruit and vegetables if possible.
On Thursday, Russia extended a ban on vegetables from Spain and Germany to the entire European Union to try to stop the outbreak spreading east, a move the EU called disproportionate and Italy's farmers denounced as "absurd." No deaths or infections have been reported in Russia.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero to push for EU help for affected farmers, her spokesman said.
Merkel, however, defended the decision of Hamburg officials to announce their suspicions that Spanish cucumbers were a possible source of the outbreak. The warning was given after cucumbers from Spain tested positive for E. coli, but further tests revealed it was a different strain.
In Torremolinos, Spaniards handed out tons of cucumbers free to the public yesterday in a show of support for farmers.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
