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| E. coli outbreak is a new strain | E. coli outbreak is a new strain |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| By James Gallagher Health reporter, BBC News | By James Gallagher Health reporter, BBC News |
| The World Health Organization says the E. coli outbreak in Germany is a completely new strain of the bacteria. | The World Health Organization says the E. coli outbreak in Germany is a completely new strain of the bacteria. |
| The infection can cause the deadly complication - haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS) - affecting the blood and kidneys. | The infection can cause the deadly complication - haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS) - affecting the blood and kidneys. |
| More than 1,500 people have been infected and 17 have died: 16 in Germany and one in Sweden. | More than 1,500 people have been infected and 17 have died: 16 in Germany and one in Sweden. |
| In the UK, three British nationals have been infected - all had visited Germany. | In the UK, three British nationals have been infected - all had visited Germany. |
| Aphaluck Bhatiasevi, a WHO spokesperson, is reported as saying: "This strain has never been seen in an outbreak situation before." | Aphaluck Bhatiasevi, a WHO spokesperson, is reported as saying: "This strain has never been seen in an outbreak situation before." |
| Scientists at the Beijing Genomics Institute in China are also reported as saying: "This E.coli is a new strain of bacteria that is highly infectious and toxic." | |
| Preliminary genetic analysis of the outbreak suggests the bacteria is unique. | Preliminary genetic analysis of the outbreak suggests the bacteria is unique. |
| Early evidence suggests the bacteria has genes from two distinct groups of E. coli: enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). | Early evidence suggests the bacteria has genes from two distinct groups of E. coli: enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). |
| Dr Paul Wigley, reader in foodborne diseases at Liverpool University, said: "One nasty bacteria seems to have acquired a toxin from another nasty bacteria which has resulted in an even nastier bug. | |
| "It seems it is producing two toxins which cause the damage and lead to bloody diarrhoea and damage to tissues including the kidneys." | "It seems it is producing two toxins which cause the damage and lead to bloody diarrhoea and damage to tissues including the kidneys." |
| The Health Protection Agency told the BBC it was only beginning to understand what this means. | |
| Europe | Europe |
| The outbreak remains centred on Germany, where there have been 1,064 cases of bloody diarrhoea and 470 cases of the potentially deadly complication in the blood and kidneys. | |
| The source of the infection, originally blamed on Spanish cucumbers, is unclear. | The source of the infection, originally blamed on Spanish cucumbers, is unclear. |
| The head of the Robert Koch Institute, which monitors the infection in Germany, said the outbreak could last for months and that "we may never know" the original source. | The head of the Robert Koch Institute, which monitors the infection in Germany, said the outbreak could last for months and that "we may never know" the original source. |
| Fresh vegetables from the European Union have been banned in Russia and the country's chief medical officer said such produce will be seized. | Fresh vegetables from the European Union have been banned in Russia and the country's chief medical officer said such produce will be seized. |
| Meanwhile Spain is threatening to seek compensation from the EU for lost vegetables sales. | Meanwhile Spain is threatening to seek compensation from the EU for lost vegetables sales. |
| UK cases | UK cases |
| Three British nationals in the UK have been infected with E. coli linked to the outbreak in Germany, according to the Health Protection Agency. | Three British nationals in the UK have been infected with E. coli linked to the outbreak in Germany, according to the Health Protection Agency. |
| It brings the total number of cases in the UK to seven, the other four are from Germany. | It brings the total number of cases in the UK to seven, the other four are from Germany. |
| It is believed that all patients caught the infection in Germany and brought it back to the UK. | It is believed that all patients caught the infection in Germany and brought it back to the UK. |
| Three of them have developed the potentially deadly complication of HUS. | Three of them have developed the potentially deadly complication of HUS. |
| The HPA continues to advise that people travelling to Germany should not eat raw cucumber, lettuce or tomatoes and that they should seek medical advice if they have bloody diarrhoea. | The HPA continues to advise that people travelling to Germany should not eat raw cucumber, lettuce or tomatoes and that they should seek medical advice if they have bloody diarrhoea. |
| It said one of the strange things about the outbreak was the number of cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome. It is a very severe kidney complication which destroys red blood cells and can also affect the central nervous system. | It said one of the strange things about the outbreak was the number of cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome. It is a very severe kidney complication which destroys red blood cells and can also affect the central nervous system. |
| Dr Dilys Morgan, from the Health Protection Agency, said: "It's very unusual for adults to have HUS anyway. | Dr Dilys Morgan, from the Health Protection Agency, said: "It's very unusual for adults to have HUS anyway. |
| "It mainly affects young children and older adults, but what we've seen is predominantly young females getting this condition. | "It mainly affects young children and older adults, but what we've seen is predominantly young females getting this condition. |
| "It's a very rare organism that's causing this and it's thought it has particular properties where the toxin it produces is particularly virulent and therefore is affecting this population more than we would normally expect." | "It's a very rare organism that's causing this and it's thought it has particular properties where the toxin it produces is particularly virulent and therefore is affecting this population more than we would normally expect." |
| Professor Hugh Pennington, a microbiologist from the University of Aberdeen, said: "This outbreak is unusual in that it doesn't seem to be targeting young children. | Professor Hugh Pennington, a microbiologist from the University of Aberdeen, said: "This outbreak is unusual in that it doesn't seem to be targeting young children. |
| "Children under five have had a very hard time with this kind of bug in the past, they seem to be escaping it, maybe just due to the nature of the food that's causing the problem." | "Children under five have had a very hard time with this kind of bug in the past, they seem to be escaping it, maybe just due to the nature of the food that's causing the problem." |
| Have you or your family been affected by the E. coli outbreak? Are you happy to talk to the BBC about your experiences? If so please send us your details using the form below. |