More deaths from E. Coli infected cucumbers in Germany

1^st June 2011 - An outbreak of a serious strain of E. Coli has prompted urgent food hygiene advice for people travelling to Germany from the UK to steer clear of some raw salad. Anyone coming back from a trip to Germany suffering from food poisoning illness - including bloody diarrhoea - should seek urgent medical attention. The Health protection Agency says they should also explain their recent travel history.

The HPA says the German authorities have now reported 373 cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) in Germany and six deaths.

The first death from the outbreak outside of Germany has been reported - a woman in Sweden who'd recently visited Germany.

The German Consumer Affairs Minister Ilse Aigner has described the situation as: "A matter of life and death."

The outbreak was caused by a rare organism called verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) O104 infection. Reports from Germany refer to the VTEC cases as cases of Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC). VTEC is also sometimes called Entrohaemorrhagic E.coli (EHEC).

Other countries are continuing to see cases from the outbreak among people returning from Germany, and the HPA says more cases could emerge here.

Cucumbers suspected

Initial reports in Germany blamed Spanish cucumbers for the outbreak. These have not been confirmed and investigations are continuing with samples of food being taken.

The HPA says that until the sources are found, anyone visiting Germany should avoid raw tomatoes, cucumbers and leafy salad including lettuce, especially in the north of the country.

The HPA in the UK is working with the authorities in Germany, the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) over the outbreak.

Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS)

Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS) is a serious complication from verocytotoxin- producing E. coli (VTEC) infection that affects the blood, kidneys and in severe cases, the central nervous system. It requires treatment in hospital and can be fatal. In this outbreak many more people are suspected to have bloody diarrhoea, which can be serious, or milder forms of the infection which usually get better on their own within seven days.

Most people normally carry harmless strains of E. coli in their intestines. The harmless strains and the type causing illness are usually by eating or drinking contaminated food or water. It can also spread from other people or animals through contact with faeces.