EHEC outbreak in MV: 43 infections, children in mortal danger!

EHEC outbreak in MV: 43 infections, children in mortal danger!

The EHEC infections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are causing great concern for the health authorities. 43 people there are currently suffering from the disease, including 12 with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which poses serious health risks. Authorities are already talking about an outbreak of this infectious disease after 12 new cases were reported on Thursday. So far, 15 affected people are being treated as inpatients, although the condition of four less severe cases is reported to be stable NDR.

The increase in serious illnesses during this time is particularly noticeable. HUS can cause dangerous complications such as kidney failure and the need for dialysis. Health department employee Jörg Heusler pointed out that initial laboratory tests in three cases suggested a possible connection. The search for the original source of the infections is underway. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has introduced a new standardized questionnaire to better understand the transmission route. However, preliminary surveys have not yet produced any clear results as to the source, and food inspectors and veterinarians are investigating various suspected sources.

Those affected and symptoms

Those affected include both adults and children from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as well as vacationers from other federal states. Ten children and two adults already suffer from EHEC. What is particularly worrying is that five of the affected children have HUS, meaning they need to be treated in intensive care units, explained Pharmacy look around. Three of these children even require dialysis.

Symptoms of EHEC usually appear three to ten days after infection and include watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and severe abdominal pain. If the course is severe, bloody diarrhea and fever can occur. Children are particularly at risk because their immune systems are not yet fully developed.

Recalls and precautions

A possible source could be the onion sausage from Schleizer Fleisch- und Wurstwaren GmbH, which was recalled last weekend due to the risk of EHEC. Toxin-producing EHEC bacteria were found in one batch. The product was sold in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and ten other federal states. It is still unclear whether there is a clear connection with the current infections. In addition, there is no evidence of an increase in EHEC cases in other regions of Germany, as the RKI reports. A team of experts is in constant communication with local health authorities to monitor the situation.
In addition, schools were provided with information material about prevention and hygiene in the run-up to the start of school.

The chairman of the CDU parliamentary group, Daniel Peters, is now calling for the establishment of a crisis team and a special session of the state parliament to be examined, while Health Minister Stefanie Drese from the SPD rejects such a measure. She emphasizes the close cooperation with the Robert Koch Institute and the State Office for Health and Social Affairs (Lagus).

The situation is tense and the authorities are warning people to observe hygiene measures. EHEC bacteria are not exactly rare, and the outbreak is reminiscent of previous epidemics. In Germany, over 3,440 EHEC cases were registered in 2023 and around 4,570 in 2024, but the current numbers are particularly alarming. In 2011, Germany experienced a major EHEC outbreak that caused around 3,800 illnesses and over 50 deaths, caused by contaminated sprouts from Egypt daily news explained.