Shiga toxin/verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli in humans, food and animals in the EU/EEA, with special reference to the German outbreak strain STEC O104

This joint technical report aims to give a short summary of reported Shiga toxin/verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC/VTEC) prevalence and incidence in humans, food and animals. A special reference is given to the strain STEC O104:H4, which was isolated as the causative agent for the largest outbreak of haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) ever
reported, which started in Germany in May 2011 and includes several cases from other EU and non-EU countries linked to the outbreak. The report focuses on cases reported in EU/EEA countries through the existing surveillance and monitoring systems in the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the comparison of characteristics of strains from earlier reported isolates/cases with the German outbreak strain.

ECDC: News, 9.6.11: ECDC and EFSA publish joint technical report on the STEC/VTEC outbreak in Germany http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/press/news/Lists/News/ECDC_DispForm.aspx?List=32e43ee8%2De230%2D4424%2Da783%2D85742124029a&ID=442&RootFolder=%2Fen%2Fpress%2Fnews%2FLists%2FNews

EFFSA: Shiga toxin/verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli in humans, food and animals in the EU/EEA, with special reference to the German outbreak strain STEC O104 http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/pub/166e.htm

EFSA: Press Release, 9.6.11: EFSA issues advice to mitigate risks from possible exposure to STEC in vegetables http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/110609.htm

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