The outbreak of the HUS syndrome in Germany has been the concern
of many. Let me also become social conscious. I felt that some
information on the e coli infection and the precautions to be taken will be
helpful to the readers of my blog. Thanks to all who have given
ample information on the net which has helped me to assimilate and share it on
my blog
What is E coli 0104?
E.coli is a bacteria which lives in the intestine and helps in digestion process. It is safe as long as it is in the intestine. It becomes dangerous once it leaves the intestine and spreads through fecal matter or unwashed or uncleaned hands. The latest addition to this is ecoli 0104.
German
health authorities have reported an outbreak of a severe illness called
hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in Germany since May 2, 2011. In this outbreak,
HUS is being caused by an infection with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia
coli (STEC) bacteria. Many people have been hospitalized, several
requiring intensive care, and some people have died. New cases are still being
reported.. The organism causing the outbreak has been identified as E.
coli O104:H4, producing Shiga toxin. This strain of E. coli causes
an illness similar to infection with E. coli O157:H7.
STEC infections can cause different gastrointestinal symptoms, which
often include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting. If
there is fever, it is generally not very high (less than 101°F [38.3°C]). HUS
is a disorder that usually occurs when an infection in the digestive system
(such as STEC) produces toxic substances that destroy red blood cells and cause
kidney injury. Early symptoms of HUS include decreased frequency or volume of
urination, feeling very tired, and losing pink color in the cheeks and inside
the lower eyelids. Signs of HUS typically start 5–7 days after the start of
diarrhea, and diarrhea or bloody stools may no longer be present when HUS
develops.
Most infections have been reported in
people in northern Germany (mainly Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and
Schleswig-Holstein) or in people who have recently traveled to these areas.
Cases in travelers to northern Germany have been reported in Denmark, the
Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
German
health authorities are investigating the outbreak but have not confirmed a
source. They suspect that the source is contaminated food, possibly raw
vegetables.
Guide to travellers:
German health authorities
recommend that people in Germany, especially in the northern part of the
country, avoid eating raw tomatoes, fresh cucumbers, and leafy salads, until
further notice. Travelers should also follow regular food safety measures when handling
fruit and vegetables.
If you
have traveled to Germany and have bloody diarrhea and stomach cramps or
symptoms of
HUS, go
to a doctor right away and tell him or her about your recent travel.
Please do not panic. Some precautions to avoid an infection
A few simple precautions
can reduce the risk of foodborne diseases:
· Wash
: Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables in running tap water to remove visible dirt
and grime. Remove and discard the outermost leaves of a head of lettuce or
cabbage. Because bacteria can grow well on the cut surface of fruit or
vegetable, be careful not to contaminate these foods while slicing them up on
the cutting board, and avoid leaving cut parts at room temperature for many
hours. Don't be a source of foodborne illness yourself. Wash your hands with
soap and water before preparing food. Avoid preparing food for others if you
yourself have a diarrheal illness. Changing a baby's diaper while preparing
food is a bad idea that can easily spread illness
· Don't
cross-contaminate one food with another. Avoid cross-contaminating foods by
washing hands, utensils, and cutting boards after they have been in contact
with raw meat or poultry and before they touch another food. Put cooked meat on
a clean platter, and not back on one that held the raw meat.
Cook meat, poultry, and eggs thoroughly. Using a
thermometer to measure the internal temperature of meat is a good way to be
sure that it is cooked sufficiently to kill bacteria: 145°F for whole meats
(allowing the meat to rest for 3 minutes before carving or consuming), 160°F
for ground meats, and 165°F for all poultry. Eggs should be cooked until the
yolk is firm.
· Refrigerate
leftovers promptly. Bacteria can grow quickly at room temperature, so
refrigerate leftover foods if they are not going to be eaten within 4 hours.
Large volumes of food will cool more quickly if they are divided into several
shallow containers for refrigeration.
Report suspected foodborne illnesses to your
local health department. The local public health
department is an important part of the food safety system. Often calls from
concerned citizens are how outbreaks are first detected. If a public health
official contacts you to find out more about an illness you had, your
cooperation is important. In public health investigations, it can be as
important to talk to healthy people as to ill people. Your cooperation may be
needed even if you are not ill.
The World
Health Organization cautioned people against taking antibiotics if they fall
ill from the E. coli outbreak, which began in Germany last month.
The UN
health agency said it supports existing recommendations to avoid antibiotics
because they could make the condition worse.
Anti-diarrhea
medication also should be avoided because it stops the bacteria from quickly
leaving the body,
Studies
testing the effectiveness of antibiotics for E. coli suggest at best the
medication has no effect and at worst the drugs may worsen the illness. By
killing bacteria, antibiotics cause the microbes to release more toxins that
cause illness.
The New York Time’s Gardiner
Harris goes into greater detail:
Instead
of antibiotics, the best treatment is intravenous fluids, which help to keep
the kidneys functioning.
Wish you
a E coli infection free life.
2 cups Poha (Beaten Rice)
