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E.coli cucumber scare: Germany seeks source of outbreak | E.coli cucumber scare: Germany seeks source of outbreak |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Germans have been warned not to eat cucumbers until tests identify the source of a deadly E.coli outbreak that has killed 10 and spread across Europe. | Germans have been warned not to eat cucumbers until tests identify the source of a deadly E.coli outbreak that has killed 10 and spread across Europe. |
It is thought contaminated organic cucumbers were imported from Spain, but further tests are being carried out. | It is thought contaminated organic cucumbers were imported from Spain, but further tests are being carried out. |
The vegetables have left hundreds ill with Hemolytic-uremic Syndrome (HUS), which causes kidney problems. | The vegetables have left hundreds ill with Hemolytic-uremic Syndrome (HUS), which causes kidney problems. |
Cases have also been recorded in Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK. | Cases have also been recorded in Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK. |
One woman was taken to hospital in Poland on Monday and said to be in a serious condition after returning from a trip to the northern German city of Hamburg, where more than 450 cases have been reported. | |
On Sunday, authorities in the Czech Republic and Austria took some Spanish-grown cucumbers off shop shelves amid contamination fears. | |
Czech officials said affected cucumbers may also have been exported to Hungary and Luxembourg. | Czech officials said affected cucumbers may also have been exported to Hungary and Luxembourg. |
Suspicion has fallen on organic cucumbers from Spain imported by Germany but then re-exported to other European countries, or exported directly by Spain. | |
Two Spanish greenhouses identified as sources for the outbreak have been closed and are currently under investigation to see whether the outbreak originated there or elsewhere, said an EU spokesman. | Two Spanish greenhouses identified as sources for the outbreak have been closed and are currently under investigation to see whether the outbreak originated there or elsewhere, said an EU spokesman. |
HUS often occurs after a gastrointestinal infection with E.coli. | |
Contagious cucumbers? | Contagious cucumbers? |
The Sweden-based European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has called the outbreak "one of the largest described of HUS worldwide and the largest ever reported in Germany". | |
It has baffled scientists because whereas HUS normally affects children under the age of five, in this outbreaks nearly 90% are adults and two-thirds are women, says the BBC's Stephen Evans in Berlin. | It has baffled scientists because whereas HUS normally affects children under the age of five, in this outbreaks nearly 90% are adults and two-thirds are women, says the BBC's Stephen Evans in Berlin. |
One possibility is that they became infected after eating food for what they thought were health reasons, adds our correspondent. | One possibility is that they became infected after eating food for what they thought were health reasons, adds our correspondent. |
The DNA of the bacterium is to be analysed later to try to find ways of catching it early in people infected by it. | The DNA of the bacterium is to be analysed later to try to find ways of catching it early in people infected by it. |
The sickness is not directly contagious but it can be transferred between people if an infected person prepares food for others. | The sickness is not directly contagious but it can be transferred between people if an infected person prepares food for others. |
The German authorities warn that the source may still be active and that means there is a possibility of the outbreak getting worse. | The German authorities warn that the source may still be active and that means there is a possibility of the outbreak getting worse. |