EHEC hygiene is more important nowadays

After the EHEC wave: hygiene is more important to Germans nowadays

30.07.2011

Over 5,000 people were affected by the mutated form of the EHEC bacterium in Germany. Since then, 50 people have died of the resulting infectious disease. The Robert Koch Institute in Berlin has now issued an official all-clear. At present, no acute danger emanates from the germ. According to a survey conducted by the opinion and research institute YouGov, a good 40 percent of Germans have paid more attention to active hygiene since the wave of infection.

For a good four weeks, no new cases have been reported with the dangerous EHEC bacteria. According to the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin, the epidemic peaked in June. The wave of new disease is now over, so the all-clear of the highest health institute. Since the beginning of July 2011, no new case of infection has become known. However, it can not be ruled out that infections with the EHEC pathogen can still occur even after the all-clear, said a spokesman for the RKI. According to the authorities, nearly 4,000 people had been infected with the aggressive germ. Fifty patients could no longer save their lives. They died from the consequences of EHEC symptoms.

Hygiene is again more in the focus
The EHEC wave has now prompted the German citizens to become more involved with the topic of hygiene in their own living space. After all, simple measures such as the right hand washing or the decoction of food can protect against infection. According to the results of the representative poll of the polling institute „YouGov“ A good 40 percent of Germans think more about hygiene measures. Nearly 50 percent said they had been washing their hands more intensively since the swine flu and EHEC epidemic. More than 1000 people of different ages and sex participated in the survey. When washing hands properly, it is important to clean the palms and interdigital spaces with commercial soap. Hand washing should be done thoroughly and last at least 30 seconds. The most important thing is to wash your hands only before eating, but before preparing the food. Another should not be missing after every flush of the toilet washing hands. It is important to wash your hands not once, but several times a day. Professor Reinhard Burger, President of the RKI Institute, said: "Personal hygiene must be strictly adhered to, including hand hygiene, toilet hygiene and kitchen hygiene.

Meanwhile, scientists at the University Hospital Münster (UKM) and Prof. Helge Karch from the UKM's Institute of Hygiene have confirmed that the EHEC germ is a so-called hybrid clone that combines the properties of different pathogens. The World Health Organization spoke of a mutation in this context. (Sb)

Also read:
Symptoms of EHEC infection
First deaths from EHEC infections
No antibiotic in EHEC
Enigmatic infections caused by EHEC pathogens
infectious diseases
EHEC Causes: The pathogen on the trail

Image: Gerd Altmann, Pixelio.de