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EHEC outbreak in MV: 43 infections and first alarming cases!
In Rostock, the EHEC infection rate rose to 43, including serious cases of HUS. Health authorities are investigating sources of infection.
EHEC outbreak in MV: 43 infections and first alarming cases!
There is currently a worrying outbreak of EHEC infections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. According to a report by NDR, 43 people are now sick, including 12 people who suffer from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This syndrome can have extreme health consequences, including kidney failure, which often requires dialysis. On Thursday, the State Office for Health and Social Affairs (Lagus) reported 12 more confirmed cases, making the situation even more tense. Of those who fell ill, 15 people are being treated in hospital, but fortunately four are fewer than on Wednesday and are in stable condition.
The age structure of those affected is particularly remarkable: those affected include both adults and children, with the latter bearing the brunt. The majority of the infected children, ten in total, and two adults arrived from other federal states. The countries of origin of those affected are diverse and range from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria to North Rhine-Westphalia. Several EHEC cases worth monitoring have also been recorded in Belgium. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) So far, there is no evidence of an increase in EHEC cases in other regions of Germany, but is continuing to monitor the situation closely.
Causes and risks of EHEC infection
Finding the exact source of infection is difficult. There are numerous suspicions, but clear explanations are still missing. Jörg Heusler, a responsible employee of the Western Pomerania-Rügen Health Department, points to initial laboratory tests that indicate a possible connection in three cases. A new standardized questionnaire procedure from the RKI is intended to help find the source more quickly. Experts are in constant communication with local health authorities in order to contain the epidemic.
- EHEC-Infektionen werden durch verunreinigte Lebensmittel, insbesondere rohe oder unzureichend erhitzte Produkte wie Hackfleisch und Rohmilch, übertragen.
- Die durchschnittliche Inkubationszeit beträgt drei bis vier Tage; Symptome können von wässrigem Durchfall bis hin zu blutigen Durchfällen und Bauchkrämpfen reichen.
- Besonders gefährdet sind Kinder, Säuglinge sowie ältere und abwehrgeschwächte Menschen.
A worrying recent example is the recall of onion meat sausage from Schleizer Fleisch- und Wurstwaren GmbH, in which toxin-producing EHEC bacteria were discovered. This shows how important it is to take the utmost care when purchasing and preparing food. NDR also reports on the activities of veterinarians and food inspectors who investigate various sources.
Another point of great importance is educating the population. Before school starts next Monday, schools were provided with information material on hygiene and prevention measures. Health Minister Stefanie Drese (SPD) emphasizes the importance of an informed population and rejected calls for a crisis team. It is relying on the existing cooperation with the RKI and other specialist departments in order to deal with the situation in the best possible way.
The situation remains critical and everyone involved is called upon to contain the spread of the infection. The next few days will be crucial to identify possible connections and sources of the infections and to act in a timely manner.