Killer bacteria claims 16th victim in Europe

[spanone]

BERLIN — A massive and unprecedented outbreak of bacterial infections linked to contaminated vegetables claimed two more lives in Europe on Tuesday, driving the death toll to 16. The number of sick rose to more than 1,150 people in at least eight nations.

Nearly 400 people in Germany were battling a severe and potentially fatal version of the infection that attacks the kidneys. A U.S. expert said doctors had never seen so many cases of the condition, hemolytic uremic syndrome, tied to a foodborne illness outbreak before.

Investigators across Europe were frantically trying to determine how many vegetables were contaminated with enterohaemorrhagic E.coli — an unusual, toxic strain of the common E. coli bacterium — and where in the long journey from farm to grocery store the contamination occurred.

The highly politicized mystery over the source of the E. coli contamination deepened in the light of new evidence that two strains of the bacterium may be involved. German officials said they were still looking at Spanish produce but Spain said the discovery was proof its farms were not the source.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43222918/ns/health-food_safety/

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Why is so much salmonella and e coli showing up on produce of late?????

[WatsonT]

2. It isn't

this isn't particularly common.

[spanone]

3. "The idea of an outbreak of over 300 hemolytic uremic syndrome cases is absolutely extraordinary'

But enterohaemorrhagic E.coli, or EHEC, causes more severe symptoms, ranging from bloody diarrhea to the rare hemolytic uremic syndrome. In Germany, at least 373 people have come down with the syndrome, or HUS, in which E. coli infection attacks the kidneys, sometimes causing seizures, strokes and comas.

"The idea of an outbreak of over 300 hemolytic uremic syndrome cases is absolutely extraordinary," said Dr. Robert Tauxe, deputy director of foodborne, waterborne and environmental diseases at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

"There has not been such an outbreak before that we know of in the history of public health," Tauxe said, adding that the German strain of E. coli has not been seen in the United States.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43222918/ns/health-food_safety/

[WatsonT]

4. Yeah, one isolated outbreak

that doesn't make it common.

If you think food poisoning cases are worst now than in the past then you are mistaken.

[spanone]

5. well you can argue with the experts, genius. i should have qouted you.

[Name removed]

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[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Oh, look, an apparent pizza outbreak, too!

:evilgrin:

[WatsonT]

8. Re-read the comment I was replying to, genius

[Name removed]

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