The Oregon State Department of Health has identified 13 cases of illness in the strawberry E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. Six have required hospitalization, several suffering from HUS, and one woman has died. The contamination is thought to have occurred by animals in the growing fields, but laboratory tests are pending from at 100
E. coli O157:H7 and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)
Last night reports out of Pennsylvania indicated that 3 year old Avala Pierce is undergoing dialysis at the Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA. The source of the E. coli infection that caused Avala’s illness is still under investigation, as she may be part of a cluster of 3 kids who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, recently in the Chambersburg PA area.
At the end of July on the other side of the country, an elderly woman in Washington County, Oregon, died from an HUS illness that she developed after eating E. coli contaminated strawberries. She was one of two people sickened by E. coli O157:H7 in the strawberry outbreak to develop HUS.
What is HUS?
The young, the elderly, and even otherwise strong and healthy adults can suffer devastating HUS illnesses. See the story of Stephanie Smith, a Marler Clark client whose dance career was cut short by E. coli and HUS.
Post-diarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome (D+HUS) is a severe, life-threatening complication that occurs in about 10 percent of those infected with E. coli O157:H7 or other Shiga toxin- (Stx-) producing E. coli. D+HUS was first described in 1955, but was not known to be secondary to E. coli infections until 1982. It is now recognized as the most common cause of acute kidney failure in infants and young children. Adolescents and adults are also susceptible, as are the elderly, who often succumb to the disease.
The bowel inflammation that occurs prior to the onset of post-diarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome (D+HUS) is generally referred to as the prodrome. Within a week (range 1-10 days) after ingesting Stx-producing E. coli, the colon becomes severely inflamed causing diarrhea that soon becomes bloody. A stool specimen obtained at this point is usually positive for E. coli O157:H7 or Shiga toxin. However, in many patients the window for capturing E. coli O157:H7 is narrow.
During the prodromal phase of HUS, the initial diagnosis is often acute surgical abdomen, acute appendicitis, or ulcerative colitis. The large bowel inflammation (colitis) can be mistaken for acute appendicitis because the site of intense inflammation is in the right lower part of the abdomen. If this leads to an appendectomy, the appendix is almost always found to be normal, but the surrounding bowel is swollen and hemorrhagic. If a colonoscopy is conducted, severe inflammation, ulceration and pseudomembranes (comprised of sloughed mucosal cells, white blood cells, and fibrin) are found.Continue Reading E. coli O157:H7 and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)
ECDC Concerned by Asymptomatic E. coli O104:H4 Cases
According to a report today by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) and a risk assessment statement issued by the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC), health officials in Germany are now investigating a cluster of E. coli O104:H4 infections at a German school located in
Egyptian Ministry Denies Responsibility for E. coli O104:H4 Outbreak
After a lengthy trace back investigation, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a press release last week on July 5, 2011 concluding that one lot of fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt and used to produce sprouts is the most likely common link between the two outbreaks of E. coli O104:H4 that occurred in France
CDC Confirms Arizona Fatality Is Linked to European E. coli O104:H4 Outbreak
Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that the death of an Arizona resident who had traveled to Germany is indeed linked to the European E. coli O104:H4 outbreak caused by a single lot of fenugreek seeds from an Egyptian exporter. The World Health Organization (WHO) had previously counted the Arizona resident
Another E. coli Outbreak Possibly Linked to Sprouts, This Time in France
Reports today indicate that 10 people have been hospitalized with suspected E. coli poisoning in Bordeaux, France. According to French health authorities, at least 6 out of the 10 people were found to have eaten the sprouts at a local fete in Begres, southeast of Bordeaux. Frederic Lefebvre, secretary of state for consumer affairs, said
ADPH Issues Safety Tips for Public Swimming Pools in Light of Recent E. coli Outbreak
Today, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) issued a press release containing safety tips for public pool swimmers in light of the recent E. colioutbreak that sent five children to the hospital. All five children showed signs of severe gastrointestinal illness after they had played in the Splash Park at the Opelika Sportsplex
7 Children in France Remain in the Hospital Due to E. coli Infection
Although health officials in France have not yet concluded the investigation of the source of E. coli contamination that caused 8 children to be hospitalized, beef burgers are the prime suspect.
The sickened children all reportedly consumed burgers bought frozen from the European grocery chain Lidl. The burger patties were manufactured SEB-CERF, a French company
E. coli Outbreak in Europe Claims More Lives
According to the most recent reports from Berlin, the death toll from the E. coli O104:H4 outbreak in Europe has risen again to at least 30. The latest victim was a 57-year-old man in Frankfurt who travelled with his wife to the northern city of Hamburg where the outbreak struck the hardest. In addition
FDA Issues a Statement About the European E. coli O104:H4 Outbreak
Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a press release about the current E. coli O104 outbreak in Europe. The full text of the press release can be found below.
In its statement, FDA noted that although the Robert Koch Institute, the public health agency of Germany, has not yet identified the source of