First deaths from EHEC infections

EHEC infections require first deaths

24/05/2011

While the search for the causes of the massive increase in EHEC infections continues at full speed and the consumption of raw vegetables is increasingly under suspicion, it is now loud „Tagesschau.de“ the first deaths from the bloody diarrhea.

An 83-year-old patient died as a result of EHEC infection, informed the Lower Saxony Ministry of Health in Hannover this morning. The woman died on Saturday in a clinic in the district Diepholz, said a spokesman for the Ministry. There is also loud „Tagesschau.de“ the suspicion that even a young patient in a clinic in Bremen fell victim to the consequences of EHEC infection. Although the laboratory diagnostic evaluation of the cause of death has not yet been completed, all signs point to an EHEC infection, reports the news portal. The search for the causes of the dramatic increase in life-threatening EHEC infection has, however, the first signs of a possible infection by the consumption of raw vegetables delivered, experts from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in an interview with the transmitter „SWR“.

Two patients died of EHEC infections
Currently, a significant increase in life-threatening EHEC infections can be observed. In contrast to the relatively rare cases of the past few years, not so many children but mostly adult women are affected, said Susanne Glasmacher, spokeswoman for the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin „SWR“. This could be because women prepare the food more often and get infected, according to the expert. The health authorities had already called late last week urgently to visit a doctor at the first signs of EHEC infection. The most striking feature of the infection is a bloody diarrhea, but it threatens far more serious health consequences to the kidney failure and death of patients. This fate has now overtaken an 83-year-old patient from the district of Diepholz. Although she had been receiving clinical treatment since May 15 because of the bloody diarrhea, the doctors were unable to save the patient's life and the senior died on Saturday after the episodes of EHEC infection. Even a young patient in a Bremen clinic is loud „Tagesschau.de“ probably died as a result of EHEC infection. All signs point to the life-threatening intestinal disease, even if the laboratory diagnostic evaluation is not yet available, reports the news portal.

Pay special attention to hygiene in order to avoid EHEC infections
However, the search for the causes of the increased number of EHEC infections is still ongoing. „We do not know yet where the germ of the current infections is. So far, we can virtually exclude raw milk or raw meat as a source“, said RKI spokeswoman Susanne Glasmacher. According to the experts, the most probable source of infection remains the consumption of raw vegetables or the transmission from person to person. Therefore, the Robert Koch Institute strongly recommends that affected persons seek medical attention at the first signs of EHEC infection, also in order to reduce the risk of transmission to their fellow human beings. In addition, attention should be paid to the hygiene and after each use of the toilet hand washing not forget, the experts of the RKI remind. (Fp)

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