Trace of EHEC infections leads to Egypt

Trace of mutant EHEC bacteria leads to Egypt

06/30/2011

The search for the origin of the EHEC epidemic, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), leads to Egypt. With fenugreek seeds, the new, particularly aggressive EHEC bacterial strain is said to have reached Germany and France. Also the now closed organic farm in Bienenbüttel, is said to have used the polluted seeds for breeding sprouts.

The causative strain O104: H4, which is responsible for the current EHEC infection wave in Germany, was possibly introduced via contaminated fenugreek seeds from Egypt. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said that the link between the EHEC epidemic in Germany and the increased EHEC infection in Bordeaux, France, is likely to be related to fenugreek seeds from Egypt.

EHE pathogen with fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt?
Together with experts from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in Stockholm, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in Parma has launched a comprehensive study on the causes of the current EHEC epidemic. Since sprouts in Germany were clearly identified as transmitters of the new particularly dangerous EHEC pathogens, the European authorities focused on the distribution of the corresponding products in their search for possible connections between the diseases in Germany and France. Both national and international distribution channels have been reviewed, with fenugreek seeds from Egypt considered to be „most likely link between the cases in France and the previous outbreak in Germany“ identified, EFSA said. Thus, it is suspected that the new pathogens of the EHEC strain O104: H4, which particularly often trigger severe EHEC symptoms and the so-called hemolytic uremic syndrome, were imported from North Africa.

Task Force to investigate the EHEC epidemic
Although, according to the European authorities continue to be uncertainties regarding the Egyptian fenugreek seeds. But some point out that „especially the batch from the year 2009 linked to the outbreak in France“ and the batch of 2010 could be responsible for the outbreak in Germany, according to the ESFA. However, according to the experts of the European authorities, further investigations of the distribution channels are necessary to establish a clear connection. To this end, EFSA has launched a special task force, which is supported by experts from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control by experts from France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. The World Health Organization (WHO) is also involved in the Task Force, which has now established a link between the EHEC epidemic and the potentially strained Egyptian Bocksklesamen.

Further EHEC infections can be expected
If the suspicion is confirmed that the new, particularly aggressive intestinal germs with sclerophyllous seeds came to Europe from Egypt, further EHEC infections could be expected within and outside the European Union, said the ESFA. Moreover, as the seeds are often sold as mixtures for sprouting, the EHEC pathogens can be transferred from Bock clover seeds to other products in packaging processes, the authorities warn. Therefore „Any recommendation to consumers should currently refer to all seeds and raw sprouts“, explained the ESFA. In general, the experts advise sprouts currently „not for self-consumption“ to draw and always cook sufficiently before consumption.

Nearly 4,000 EHEC infections in Germany
While the European authorities continue to find success in the search for the causes of the current EHEC epidemic, the number of new infections in Germany has been falling for days. The National Health Authorities therefore assume that the peak of the wave of infection is over. Since the outbreak of the epidemic in May, almost 4,000 people have contracted EHEC or haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in Germany, and 47 have died as a result of the infection, reports the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). The outbreak in France, however, was mainly concentrated in the Bordeaux area, where fifteen people with severe EHEC symptoms such as bloody diarrhea or HUS had to be treated between 24 and 28 June. In three French patients, the new particularly aggressive pathogen strain O104: H4 has been clearly identified, which is also responsible in Germany for the current EHEC epidemic. (Fp)

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Picture: Gerd Altmann