Killer strain of E. coli Stalks Americans

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E. coli hits america

Death stalks Americans with E. coli

The deadly European strain of E. coli has made its way to America and the CDC is getting nervous as the origin of this potentially fatal bacteria remains a mystery.

As it stands four people in the U.S. were apparently sickened by the E. coli food poisoning outbreak in Europe and although it pales in population numbers the fact that this strain is moving so quickly is astonishing.

Health officials say three people, two women and a man, are hospitalized with kidney failure, a complication of E. coli that has become a hallmark of the outbreak. One of the four fell ill while on a plane to the U.S.

All four were in northern Germany in May. Though they didn’t stay at the same hotel or eat at the same restaurants, officials are confident that they were infected with E. coli in that country.  Two other cases are being investigated in U.S. service members in Germany.

More than 1,800 people have fallen ill, nearly all in Germany.

The US Food and Drug Administration said Friday it believes US foods remain unaffected by a deadly European outbreak of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria, which so far has been linked to more than 2,000 infections in Germany alone.

The FDA said the US receives very little fresh produce from the European Union, but as a safety precaution the administration has increased surveillance of fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and raw salads from the affected areas.

“There is no reason for Americans to alter where they shop, what they buy or what they eat,” the administration said.

The outbreak was centered in Germany, but after spreading to 12 countries appeared to be stabilizing, a senior German doctor said Friday, as the death toll rose to 19.

Regional German health authorities have reported more than 2,000 cases of people falling ill with EHEC poisoning, with symptoms including stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever and vomiting, AFP reported.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

What do you think?  Does E. coli worry you?

About Post Author

Bill Miller

A barnstormer from the backwoods of Missouri and damn proud of it.
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jenny40
12 years ago

There’s a lot of stuff out there that’s scary as all get out and this is just one more.

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