CDC Says Germany's HUS E. coli Outbreak Not Expected to Spread in U.S.
The HUS E. coli outbreak centered in Germany has infected at least four Americans who were traveling there and two U.S. military men in Germany have been tested for the outbreak strain of E. coli O104:H4.
According to the World Health Organization, the total case count has grown to 1,823, which includes 552 cases of life-threatening HUS, or hemolytic uremic syndrome. At least 18 individuals have died and the unprecedented outbreak remains very active. The vast majority of illnesses have been in Germany.
At a press conference in the U.S., Chris Braden of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the CDC has no reason to believe and no expectation that the outbreak will spread in the United States. Of the four travelers who were sickened, three remained hospitalized with HUS -- a complication of E. coli infection that causes kidney failures, coma, stroke, anemia, vascular injury and other severe medical difficulties by attacking a person's red blood cells and fragmenting them. The three HUS case patients are from Massachusetts, Michigan and Wisconsin.
The source of the outbreak remained unknown, but the focus has been on salad ingredients including cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes. The Food and Drug Administration says very little produce for salads is imported from Spain and Germany, but inspectors will test any shipments for E. coli before they reach America.
Meanwhile, the CDC will continue to monitor the European E. coli outbreak. The effort includes surveillance of medical cases where an American has become sick with HUS or other diarrheal illness caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. after traveling to Europe since April 1, 2011.
