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EU health and consumer commissioner John Dalli speaks at a press conference on June 1 at EU headquarters in Brussels on the E. coli bacteria that contaminated cucumbers. (Georges Gobet/AFP/Getty Images)
An outbreak of a deadly strain of the E. coli virus in Germany and its European neighbors has killed 16 and has infected 1,600 as health officials race to pinpoint the source of the epidemic and minimize its impact.
The bug being blamed for the deaths and a swath of hospitalizations—many of which require intensive care and kidney dialysis—is among a group of toxin-producing E.coli called enterohemorrhagic E. coli, which can cause kidney failure and bloody diarrhea.
The northern German city of Hamburg has become the epicenter of the outbreak, which German officials initially blamed on shipments of Spanish cucumbers.
John Dalli, the European commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, said that European officials were working with Germany to monitor the "rapidly developing situation" and warned against swift accusations against possible contaminants.
"The initial suspicion of the German authorities that cucumbers from Spain were the cause has not been confirmed by the test results available up to now," Dalli said in Brussels on Wednesday, according to a transcript of the remarks. "Despite the fact that the sampled cucumbers did test positive to E. coli, they did not confirm the presence of the specific serotype which is responsible for the outbreak affecting humans."
The E. coli outbreak has spread to at least 10 other countries, including many a stone’s throw from Germany.
More than 40 cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), characterized by diarrhea due to renal failure, or other E. coli complications have been reported in Sweden, the most outside Germany, according to the WHO. Other countries that have reported HUS and/or E. coli cases include Austria, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Three cases have also been registered in the United States, Dalli said.
The health organization said that almost all E. coli cases in Europe were among people who visited northern Germany or came in contact with someone from the region.
The sudden rise over the past week in the number of cases of HUS and E. coli infections has baffled doctors and officials, as the cause of the epidemic is still yet unknown.
"Numerous investigations are continuing into the cause of the outbreak, which is still unclear," WHO noted.
Dalli, who called the E. coli situation a "serious crisis," called on Europeans to do their part in limiting the chance of contamination when making food."Fruit and vegetables need to be washed thoroughly. The same applies for hands before preparing food or eating, and after using the bathroom or changing diapers," Dalli said. "Washing thoroughly knives, plates, and other utensils limits the risk of cross-contamination."
