The European E Coli Outbreak

[Coast]

I guess most people are hearing the news that the current European E coli outbreak has killed at least 17 people with many more, seriously ill.

A little more worryingly, I have just read this that indicates the WHO (World Health Organisation) say the fatal E coli is a mutant form of two different E coli bacteria that has never been seen before:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/02/e-coli-outbreak-who-bacterium-new-strain

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/02/us-ecoli-idUSTRE7511UX20110602

Although their website says the cause is till unclear:

Cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) continue to rise in Germany. Ten countries have now reported cases to WHO/Europe. As of 31 May 2011, nine patients in Germany have died of HUS, and six of EHEC. One person in Sweden has also died. There are many hospitalized patients, several of them requiring intensive care, including dialysis.

The number of patients in Germany presenting with HUS and bloody diarrhoea caused by STEC is 470, which is 97 more than the day before, and 1064 of EHEC, which is an increase of 268. Overall in Europe, 499 cases of HUS and 1115 cases of EHEC have been reported, 1614 in total. Cases have now also been notified from: Austria (HUS 0, EHEC 2), Denmark (7, 7), France, (0, 6), Netherlands (4, 4), Norway, (0, 1), Spain, (1, 0), Sweden (15, 28) and Switzerland (0, 2) and the United Kingdom. (2, 1) All these cases except two are in people who had recently visited northern Germany or in one case, had contact with a visitor from northern Germany.

Numerous investigations are continuing into the cause of the outbreak, which is still unclear. In accordance with the International Health Regulations (IHR), WHO is keeping Member States informed about the latest developments and providing technical guidance on further investigation of the ongoing outbreak. WHO does not recommend any trade restrictions related to this outbreak.

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2011_06_02/en/index.html

[Snowangel-MK]

'Killer cucumber' cases in the UK

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3614550/Killer-cucumber-cases-in-the-UK.html?OTC-RSS&ATTR=News

[Coast]

Well apparently its not the cucumbers:

And days after Spain's organic cucumbers were cleared of carrying the infection, its government has vowed it will seek compensation from Germany, who wrongly linked its produce to the E.coli outbreak. Spanish farmers were forced to stop exports and destroy thousands of tons of cucumbers with losses expected to run in to the millions.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Video-Ecoli-Outbreak-Centred-On-New-Strain-Of-Bacteria-Not-Seen-Before-More-Cases-In-UK/Article/201106116004054?lpos=World_News_First_UK_News_Article_Teaser_Region_2&lid=ARTICLE_16004054_Video%3A_E.coli_Outbreak_Centred_On_New_Strain_Of_Bacteria_Not_Seen_Before%2C_More_Cases_In_UK

In Valencia, farmers dumped some 300kg of cabbage, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and other produce outside the German consulate in protest.

That's quite some stir-fry!

[PersianPaladin]

So...simply washing vegetables will sort this problem out (according to official advice)?

I find that hard to believe.....if true, then all these people who have died are eating unwashed vegetables.

[Snowangel-MK]

Well apparently its not the cucumbers:

Oh nooooooooooo....it's not the tomatoes is it ????

So...simply washing vegetables will sort this problem out

Basic food prep rules....if ya don't peel it - wash it !!

[Devonian]

So...simply washing vegetables will sort this problem out (according to official advice)?

I find that hard to believe.....if true, then all these people who have died are eating unwashed vegetables.

I'm pretty sure it is the case that washing freah veg will most likely (no food is risk free) rid it of enough pathogens to make it safe? Otoh, if the people preparring fresh veg, or the area such food is preparred in isn't clean...???

Edited June 2, 2011 by Devonian

[The PIT]

Death by savage Cucumber. Some tips here http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09369.html

[Coast]

:o Blimey, the media are going to town on this one - is it just a topical story or is really the 'deadliest bacteria in human history'?

[The PIT]

Apparently the veg and co are innocent and the early bleating by the Germans was wrong. The actual source is still speculation and hasn't been found.

[Methuselah]

I heard it was mung beans what done it...German bean sprouts???

[SP1986]

Apparently now NOT beansprouts

Good job too as I had beansprouts last night with dinner.

Well who knows what it is, but I dont know if that German farm were doing exports, but it's been shut now.

[Methuselah]

Let's have a sweepstake on the next culprit??

Sauerkraut??

[Rainy]

Just boil everything throughly. Good old English style.

What a waste chucking away all those tomatoes. Bring them here, I'll make a year's supply of soup.

Cucumbers and celery have little food value..

And cattle won't happliy eat lettuces unless disguised with something palatable. Rabbits might shift them.

[Coast]

Apparently now NOT beansprouts

Al sorts of theories still doing the rounds this morning - frankly no one knows!!!

Scientists fear the over-use of antibiotics in medicine and farming may have led to the deadly E.coli outbreak

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1395078/E-coli-outbreak-Over-use-antibiotics-led-deadly-strain.html#ixzz1OaevXyVB

[Coast]

Nope, definitely bean spouts!!!

Investigators have said German-grown bean sprouts are the cause of the E coli outbreak that has killed 29 people, the head of Germany's national disease control centre announced on Friday. Reinhard Burger, the president of the Robert Koch Institute, which is responsible for disease control and prevention in Germany, said there was enough evidence to draw the conclusion even though no sprouts from an organic farm in Lower Saxony had tested positive for the E coli strain. "It was possible to narrow down epidemiologically the cause of the outbreak of the illness to the consumption of sprouts," Burger said at a news conference. "It is the sprouts."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/10/e-coli-bean-sprouts-blamed

[Snowangel-MK]

Nope, definitely bean spouts!!!

By tomorrow they will be back to blaming the cucumbers - I wonder if that's why they were 2 for £1 in Asda's today

[Methuselah]

Just heard on the radio, that it was in fact home-grown beansprouts...Oh yes it is, oh no it isn't...

[john pike]

Just heard on the radio, that it was in fact home-grown beansprouts...Oh yes it is, oh no it isn't...

http://news.aol.co.uk/world-news/story/dutch-veg-recalled-amid-e-coli-fear/1844577/

:lol: