EHEC alarm: Several children in Berlin and Brandenburg are seriously ill!

EHEC alarm: Several children in Berlin and Brandenburg are seriously ill!

The alarm bell is ringing in Germany: there has been a worrying increase in EHEC infections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania since mid-August 2025. The situation is dramatic because seven children from Berlin and Brandenburg are already affected. What stands out is that six of the sick children come from Berlin and another from Brandenburg. What is particularly alarming is that three children from Berlin have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can lead to serious complications such as blood clotting and kidney dysfunction. Unfortunately, there are also two other children in Berlin being treated who also have HUS, but with no connection to the infected children in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

The affected child from Brandenburg is being treated as an inpatient in Leipzig and has stabilized. According to rbb24, a total of 45 EHEC cases had been reported in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania by September 5, 2025, with twelve of these cases involving HUS. Fortunately, most of those affected have now been cured; However, 15 are a cause for concern as they are still undergoing hospital treatment.

The outbreak and its causes

Unfortunately, the cause of this EHEC outbreak remains unclear. The State Office for Health and Social Affairs (Lagus), health authorities and the Robert Koch Institute are working together to look for clues. To date, seven stool samples attributed to the outbreak have been identified. Across Germany, EHEC cases are at a worrying level in 2025: 168 cases have been reported in Berlin so far, which is above the median of previous years, and Brandenburg has also experienced a worrying increase with 109 cases since the beginning of the year. These numbers are alarming compared to the 74 cases in all of 2024 and the 30 cases in 2023, as esanum notes.

The health authorities in particular warn of a risk of national spread, as both local and holiday children could be affected. A detailed travel and nutritional history is strongly recommended in patients with hemorrhagic diarrhea. The diagnosis could prove crucial because, according to gesund.bund.de, EHEC is caused by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli bacteria, which are found in the intestines of ruminants. People can become infected through contact with feces or by eating contaminated food, such as raw milk or undercooked meat.

The dangers for children

EHEC is particularly dangerous for children because their immune systems are not yet fully developed. Symptoms range from bloody diarrhea to severe abdominal pain, and parents should pay close attention to these signs. Even a few bacteria could lead to infection, and the risk of infection remains for a long time, even after the symptoms have subsided. As the current data shows, the elimination time in children is usually longer than in adults - a fact that authorities need to keep in mind.

In short: The healthcare system is required to act quickly and inform the public appropriately. So we can only hope that the situation calms down quickly and that positive news about the recovery of the affected children will arrive soon!