Again EHEC infection in northern Germany

Eight people in a family are infected with EHEC bacteria

06.09.2012

Again, patients in northern Germany suffer from the typical EHEC symptoms. According to information from the health authorities, eight family members in the district of Aurich have contracted the germ.

After about one year of the EHEC epidemic, people in Niedersachsen have once again become infected with the dangerous infectious disease. According to the health department, eight members of a family in Aurich have contracted the pathogen. According to the spokesman of the Aurich health department, Eimo Heeren, the state of health of two infants is particularly critical. They had to be admitted to Hannover Medical School (MHH) due to acute renal failure. One of the two children would be much better after a first treatment. The other family members were also released from the clinic and now again without complaints.

The speaker emphasized that the cause of the EHEC infection is still unclear. Heeren suspects that the actual cause is not found. All examined foods, which were eaten by the family, were laboratory-technically without findings.

No reason to worry or panic
A reason for panic or alarm of the population does not see the health department. Currently, the bacterial disease is limited to the affected family. In addition, the infection is nothing unusual, since every year alone in Lower Saxony between 50 and 65 people get the EHEC germ.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) sees the new case numbers „no reason to worry“. In an interview, RKI President Reinhard Burger said that „a certain EHEC activity, so a certain number of infections in Germany is normal“. According to his estimates, around one thousand people in Germany develop intestinal germ every year. Approximately „60 to 70 of the infections are severe“.

More than 4,000 people became infected in 2011 with the aggressive EHEC pathogen (Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli) strain 0104: H4. About 800 patients suffered from the haemolytic uraemic syndrome. First EHEC symptoms are severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, partial nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, life-threatening situations such as kidney failure can occur. (Sb)

Picture credits: Markus Wegner