E. coli outbreak: Update 7
WHO 04-06-2011
In Germany the enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) continues.
HUS: As of 03 June at 18:00 CET, Germany had reported 573 cases of HUS (including 12 fatalities). This was 53 more from the previous day. 70% of cases were in women and 89% were in adults aged 20 years or older. The highest attack rates per 100 000 population were in the 20-49 age groups. Case onset dates for HUS range from 1 May to 31 May.
EHEC: As of 03 June at 18:00 CET, 1428 cases of enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) infections (without HUS) had been reported in Germany (6 fatalities).This was 215 more from the previous day. 61% of cases were females and 88% adults aged 20 years or older. Case onset dates for EHEC range from 1 May to 30 May. The Robert Koch Institute emphasized that it was still too early to make any judgement about whether the peak of the outbreak had been passed.HUS: As of 03 June at 18:00 CET, Germany had reported 573 cases of HUS (including 12 fatalities). This was 53 more from the previous day. 70% of cases were in women and 89% were in adults aged 20 years or older. The highest attack rates per 100 000 population were in the 20-49 age groups. Case onset dates for HUS range from 1 May to 31 May.
Other countries
As of 04 June at 18:00 CET, altogether 31 HUS (1 fatality) and 71 EHEC cases (0 fatality), respectively had been reported from 11 other European countries.| Country | HUS | EHEC |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | 0 | 2 |
| Czech Republic | 0 | 1 |
| Denmark | 7 | 11 |
| France | 0 | 10 |
| Netherlands | 4 | 4 |
| Norway | 0 | 1 |
| Poland | 1 | 0 |
| Spain | 1 | 0 |
| Sweden | 15 | 31 |
| Switzerland | 0 | 3 |
| United Kingdom | 3 | 8 |
In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, United States of America, had earlier published information of 2 cases of HUS in USA linked to this outbreak.
All except 1 of the above HUS and EHEC cases had travelled to or from Germany during the incubation period for infection, typically 3 to 4 days post-exposure (range 2-10 days). An increasing number of cases are laboratory confirmed as EHEC serotype O104:H4, or more precisely a strain of enteroaggregative Verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (EAggEC VTEC) O104:H4. All of the affected countries are reporting their cases to the German authorities and to WHO. European Union countries are also sharing information through the secure Early Warning and Response System (EWRS).
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