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Rising EHEC Outbreak in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: A Public Health Concern

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), a potentially dangerous gut bacterium, has been causing concern in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, as a wave of infections has been reported. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the number of EHEC cases in the region has been on the rise in September 2023, with 17 cases mainly affecting children, several requiring intensive care, and the infection source still unclear.

EHEC is primarily transmitted to humans through contaminated food, such as raw meat or vegetables. In a previous outbreak in 2011, contaminated sprouts from alfalfa seeds were identified as the source. Hygienic conditions are crucial in the kitchen and bathroom to protect against EHEC infection. After changing diapers on affected children, hands should be washed thoroughly.

EHEC produces strong cell poisons known as Shiga toxins. These toxins cause severe diarrhea, sometimes leading to the life-threatening hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), which can result in kidney failure. About 10-20% of EHEC patients develop bloody diarrhea with cramping abdominal pain, sometimes accompanied by fever. Five elderly people died from kidney failure due to EHEC in 2023.

Severe EHEC cases mainly affect people with weakened immune systems, including infants, young children, the elderly, and people with underlying conditions and a reduced immune response. In 2023, 3442 EHEC cases were reported in Germany, with children under the age of five, especially one-year-olds, being most affected.

In response to an EHEC outbreak, employees in the food industry or large kitchens must stay away from work until the pathogen is no longer detectable in their stool. Treating physicians decide when visiting or participating in a communal facility is possible again after an EHEC infection. In case of an EHEC outbreak in a personal network, affected individuals and those from the same household should not enter communal facilities like daycare centers or schools.

The RKI saw no evidence of a nationwide outbreak but is closely monitoring the situation. The subtype detected in a Belgian nursing home does not seem to be connected to the illness cases in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. EHEC patients should use a separate toilet if possible, and hygiene is particularly important, especially in the bathroom area.

EHEC occurs in the digestive tract of livestock, such as cattle. To protect oneself from an EHEC infection, it is essential to maintain good hygiene, including regular, thorough hand washing with soap after using the toilet, before eating, and before preparing food, as well as after contact with animals in a petting zoo or on a farm.

Stay informed and take necessary precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones from EHEC infections. If you suspect you or someone you know may have contracted EHEC, seek medical attention immediately.