E. Coli Outbreak Infects 1,600 Across Europe, EU Contests Russian Import Ban

The Commission noted that the latest test results on cucumber samples carried out by the competent authorities in Spain and Germany, showed that the cucumbers are not responsible for the Shiga toxin-producing E. Coli (STEC) outbreak in Germany.

6/3/2011 --- The European Commission has protested to the Russian Federation against the Russian ban imposed yesterday on all EU vegetable exports to Russia, and requested the immediate withdrawal of the measure.

In a letter sent by European Commissioner John Dalli's Services to the Russian Authorities, the Commission specifically expressed concerns about this decision, by noting that the latest test results on cucumber samples carried out by the competent authorities in Spain and Germany, showed that the cucumbers are not responsible for the Shiga toxin-producing E. Coli (STEC) outbreak in Germany.

Reminding that the outbreak is restricted to a limited geographical area –it is affecting primarily the northern part of Germany– the Commission also stressed that it has removed its own alert notification on Spanish cucumbers from the Rapid Alert System on Food and Feed (RASFF).

Finally, in the letter, the Commission underlined that it has kept all of its trading partners, including Russia, fully informed about all developments on the STEC outbreak in a transparent manner and pledges to continue doing so.

Meanwhile the World Health Organization has said that cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) continue to rise in Germany. Ten countries have now reported cases to WHO/Europe.

As of 31 May 2011, nine patients in Germany have died of HUS, and six of EHEC. One person in Sweden has also died. There are many hospitalized patients, several of them requiring intensive care, including dialysis.

The number of patients in Germany presenting with HUS and bloody diarrhoea caused by STEC is 470, which is 97 more than the day before, and 1064 of EHEC, which is an increase of 268. Overall in Europe, 499 cases of HUS and 1115 cases of EHEC have been reported, 1614 in total.

Cases have now also been notified from: Austria (HUS 0, EHEC 2), Denmark (7, 7), France, (0, 6), Netherlands (4, 4), Norway, (0, 1), Spain, (1, 0), Sweden (15, 28) and Switzerland (0, 2) and the United Kingdom. (2, 1) All these cases except two are in people who had recently visited northern Germany or in one case, had contact with a visitor from northern Germany.

Numerous investigations are continuing into the source of the outbreak, which is still unclear.

In accordance with the International Health Regulations (IHR), WHO is keeping Member States informed about the latest developments and providing technical guidance on further investigation of the ongoing outbreak. WHO does not recommend any trade restrictions related to this outbreak.