Jump to page content

Update from HPSC on VTEC O104 Outbreak in Germany, and now France

29 June 2011
print version send to a friend

Dear Colleagues

The World Health Organisation sent out an alert to all countries yesterday, asking them to strengthen their surveillance of bloody diarrhoea and haemolytic uraemic syndrome. This is in light of a new cluster of illness which has occurred in France due to VTEC O104. See report below

WHO has been notified of a cluster of 8 patients hospitalised with bloody diarrhoea, 7 of them having developed HUS, in the Bordeaux Region of France. All 8 cases are geographically clustered. This cluster includes 6 women and 2 men aged 31-78 years. The seven cases who could be interviewed reported attending an event at a recreation centre, le Centre de Loisir de la Petite Enfance, in Bègles on 8 June 2011. Six reported eating gaspacho (a cold vegetable soup) garnished with raw sprouts. Investigations are underway to verify the most likely food source attributed to the outbreak and trace back the origin (http://www.invs.sante.fr/).

Three cases have been confirmed with E. coli O104:H4 infection. In addition to sharing the same serotype, the strain shows similar characteristics to the strain identified in the recent and severe HUS outbreak in Germany (stx2 positive, eae negative, hlyA negative and preliminary antibiogram results that indicate its antimicrobial resistance pattern is similar to the German outbreak strain). Confirmatory analyses (presence of AggA) and further typing are underway.

The finding of this second outbreak of E. coli O104:H4 infections with a possible link to raw sprouted seeds/beans raises concern that the source of contamination is the seeds used to produce the sprouts. WHO has contacted the countries involved to ensure that any evidence which could inform preventive actions is shared with the international community in a timely manner.

Actions Requested of GPs

  • Please submit samples for analysis in patients with bloody diarrhoea in which there are indicators to suggest an infectious aetiology.
  • Notify any clusters of cases of bloody diarrhoea immediately to your local Department of Public Health.

If you have any queries in relation to this email please contact derval.igoe@hse.ie or paulj.mckeown@hse.ie.

For and on behalf of Dr Darina O'Flanagan
Director, HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre
Ireland's National International Health Regulations Focal Point
25-27 Middle Gardiner Street
Dublin 1