School closure for EHEC infections

School closure for EHEC infections

28/06/2011

Because of the spread of EHEC pathogens, a school in Altenbeken, East Westphalia, was closed for a week. After several pupils suffered from typical EHEC symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain in mid-June, three boys were found to have an infection with the dangerous intestinal germs of the new, particularly dangerous pathogen strain "HUSEC 041". Since three employees of the food distribution and an employee of the responsible caterer were diagnosed with an EHEC infection, the authorities decided on Monday to close the school for one week.

While the EHEC epidemic appears to have peaked in line with declining numbers of infections, health authorities report the alarming incidence of multiple EHEC infections in a school in Altenbeken (Paderborn, East Westphalia). Three boys between the ages of eight and eleven have been infected with the new, particularly aggressive EHEC pathogens. In addition, an EHEC infection was also detected in three employees of the food distribution and one employee of the responsible caterers. The school was then closed in consultation with the district health department, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and the relevant state authorities for a week. Due to the closure until next week Tuesday, there will be enough time to wait for the incubation period and possible further illnesses, the district of Paderborn announced on Monday. Lessons in elementary school will be canceled until then.

School closed for EHEC infections for one week
After three boys of the school in Altenbeken fell ill as a result of EHEC infection on the so-called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and have to be treated today by specialists of the University of Münster, the authorities were alarmed. When the EHEC rapid test also detected the new, especially aggressive EHEC pathogens of the HUSEC 041 strain among three employees of the food dispenser and one employee of the caterer who had no EHEC symptoms, the competent authorities decided on Monday for a one-week Closure of the educational institution. The lessons will be canceled by next Tuesday. Thereby the incubation period of possible further infections can be waited, also to avoid a possible infection in the school, reports the district health office Paderborn. It usually takes about three to four days before the first EHEC symptoms such as diarrhea or abdominal pain occur, followed a week later in the severe infection progressions, the first symptoms of hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can cause acute renal failure, anemia and neurological disorders. The decision to close the school was agreed with the state authorities and the Robert Koch Institute, according to the announcement of the district of Paderborn. The school closure was also done with consideration for the worried parents, said the district administrator Manfred Müller.

EHEC infection path in the school so far unclear
The three boys, who subsequently contracted an infection with the new, particularly aggressive EHEC pathogen strain on the life-threatening HUS, according to the district health office are now on the road to recovery. The employees of the food dispenser and the employee of the caterer had no symptoms as a result of the EHEC infection. Nevertheless, the school will be closed until next Tuesday, not least because the infection route could not be clarified clearly so far and the incubation period of possible new infections should be awaited, explained the director of the county health department Paderborn, Georg Alles. As a source of infection transmission through contaminated food as well as the contagion on the communal toilets via a so-called smear infection, so the further remarks of the district health director. Since an EHEC infection can be triggered even by the smallest amounts of transmitted pathogens, according to the experts, community facilities such as schools, hospitals and nursing homes are particularly at risk from the spread of EHEC bacteria. In the current case of the school, however, the county health department seems to deliberately withhold suspicions about a possible source of infection, because the likelihood that the food issue in connection with the EHEC infections is, seems in light of the evidenced by the employees and the employee of the caterer EHEC Pathogen relatively high, even if a final statement can not be made due to the outstanding stool samples investigations.

Incubation period of new EHEC pathogens largely unknown
How long the people infected with EHEC actually represent a risk of infection for their fellow human beings, is so far unknown for the new pathogen HUSEC 041, so that it can not be ruled out that the school in Altenbeken has to cease operations for more than one week. Experience with other EHEC strains has shown that it can take several weeks for the infected to transmit no more pathogens, reports the district health department. Children who have become infected with EHEC are more likely to take longer to develop a risk of infection, said the experts. Particularly dangerous is the transmission by persons who are indeed infected with the virus, but themselves have no EHEC symptoms, as in the current case, for example, in the staff of the food distribution. Therefore, thorough hygiene measures such as hand washing before every kitchen work and after each visit to the toilet are still essential to stop the spread of EHEC infections, warn the health authorities. (Fp)

Read more about EHEC:
Symptoms of EHEC infection
Quick test detects EHEC symptoms
Do not panic about EHEC germs
EHEC Causes: The pathogen on the trail
First deaths from EHEC infections
No antibiotic in EHEC
Enigmatic infections caused by EHEC pathogens
Doctors are testing new therapy for EHEC infection

Picture credits: Gabi Schoenemann