EHEC outbreak: update 21
Since week 23/2011, the number of reported cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS)/enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) has declined significantly. In Germany, the daily numbers of reported cases have steadily decreased since they peaked on 22 May. Nevertheless, the cumulative numbers of cases from Germany continue to rise, primarily owing to delays in notification.
Investigations by the German authorities indicate that the vehicle of the bacterium responsible for the outbreak, enteroaggregative verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (EAggEC VTEC) O104:H4, is bean and seed sprouts, and the Robert Koch Institute has warned people in Germany not to eat raw sprouts of any origin.
The table shows the reported cases of and deaths from HUS and EHEC infection as of 21 June at 15:00 CET.
| Country |
HUS |
EHEC |
Comments |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases | Deaths |
Cases | Deaths | ||
| Austria | 1 |
0 | 3 |
0 |
|
| Canada | 0 | 0 |
1 | 0 | |
| Czech Republic | 0 |
0 | 1 |
0 | A tourist from the United States who had travelled in Germany |
| Denmark | 9 |
0 |
13 |
0 | |
| France | 0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
| Germany |
815 | 27 | 2786 | 12 | |
| Greece | 0 |
0 | 1 | 0 |
A German tourist |
| Luxembourg | 1 |
0 | 1 |
0 |
|
| Netherlands | 4 |
0 | 5 |
0 |
|
| Norway | 0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Contact with a German in Norway |
| Poland | 2 |
0 |
1 | 0 | |
| Spain | 1 |
0 | 1 |
0 |
|
| Sweden | 18 |
1 |
30 |
0 |
|
| Switzerland | 0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
| United Kingdom | 3 |
0 |
3 | 0 |
|
| United States of America | 3 | 0 |
2 | 0 |
3 HUS cases (all confirmed) and 2 EHEC cases (one confirmed and one suspected) |
| Total | 857 | 28 | 2856 | 12 | |
Note. There are 3713 HUS and EHEC cases in total, including 40 fatalities.
The latest date of onset of diarrhoea for a HUS case is 14 June and for an EHEC case, 15 June. All but 5 of the above HUS and EHEC cases were in people who had travelled to or lived in Germany during the incubation period for infection, typically 3–4 days after exposure (range: 2–10 days). The remaining 5 cases can also be linked to the outbreak in Germany.
Note
EHEC and HUS have exclusive notification categories, so case numbers should not overlap. The figures in any rapidly evolving outbreak, however, are provisional and subject to change for a variety of reasons.
In providing the above information, WHO wishes to recognize the contribution of its Member States, and technical partners such as the European Commission, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and a number of WHO collaborating centres.
