Intestinal infection in Europe caused a ban on the import of fresh vegetables from Spain and Germany
Monday, 30 May 2011 19:25
In Russia today was banned import of fresh vegetables from Spain and Germany, due to the intestinal infection in Europe.
EU supervisory authorities are already preparing to declare an epidemic, because of acute intestinal infections (Escherichia coli (EHEC), the so-called hemolytic uremic syndrome) that passeth vegetables, especially the suffering people of Germany, which has already infected more than 1000 people. In this case, the number of people infected is increasing rapidly.
As noted by the doctors, the majority of people infected recover within 10 days, but in some cases (especially in young children and the elderly), the disease can take a severe form of life-threatening, which is characterized by hemorrhagic diarrhea, acute renal failure and anemia. In Germany, the victims of intestinal diseases have already 12 people. The most difficult situation are in northern Germany, in Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg. Cases have already been identified in 15 of the 16 federal states of Germany. Presumably contaminated vegetables imported from Spain, but the exact source of the contamination is not yet possible to determine, as in Spain itself has not recorded any cases of the disease, according to information received, the risk of infection is highest when food consumed raw tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce.
E. coli (Escherichia coli, lat. Escherichia coli; standard abbreviations e coli) –is the form of Gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria that is part of the normal microflora of the gastrointestinal tract of man. Most strains of E. coli are harmless, but the serotype O157: H7 can cause severe food poisoning in humans. Harmless strains are part of the normal intestinal flora of humans and animals. E. coli benefit the host organism, for example, synthesizing vitamin K, as well as preventing the development of pathogenic microorganisms in the gut. Virulent strains of E. coli can cause gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the genitourinary system, and meningitis in newborns.
In rare cases, virulent strains also cause hemolytic uremic syndrome, peritonitis, mastitis, septicemia and Gram-negative pneumonia. E. coli is a representative of the family Enterobacteriaceae -is a commensal of the gastrointestinal tract, where it, in case of violation of the permeability of normal anatomic barriers, as is the case, for example, perforation of the appendix, can spread and affect adjacent organs. It is believed, that infection with intestinal bacteria of the urinary tract is carried out not through contaminated urinary tract, and under direct hematogenous spread of infection in the kidney. After entering the primary focus of infection in the further spread of it in distant organs by the bloodstream. As a result, bacteremia, possible for all Gram-negative infections, can lead to shock caused by endotoxins.
More than 50% of diseases caused by Escherichia coli, a gateway is urinary tract infection, are also common infections originating from the liver and bile ducts of the abdominal cavity, skin and lungs. In some patients with bacteremia caused by E. coli atrium can not be detected, they are frequently observed neoplastic or hematologic diseases. Some strains of E. coli, for example- O157: H7, O121 and O104: H21, synthesized of potentially deadly toxins.
Today, the cases of infectious disease occurring in the form of hemolytic-uremic syndrome, in recent days have been recorded not only in Germany but also in Sweden, Denmark, Holland and Britain.
According to a representative of the European Centre, for the prevention and control of diseases, the current outbreak of hemolytic-uremic syndrome is "one of the largest in the world and the largest in Germany."
Already established, that the party of cucumbers, containing bacteria pathogen, were also imported to the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and Luxembourg, where also a possible outbreak of the disease. The incubation period is from three to eight days, with a median of three to four days.
Most patients recover within 10 days. When the first signs of discomfort (abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, fever) is very important not to self-medicate and seek medical advice.