Deadly E. coli found on bean sprouts
German officials on Friday said they had found the first direct evidence of deadly E. coli bacteria on vegetable sprouts thought to have killed 33 people and left over 3,000 ill.
The discovery was made in a packet of sprouts in the garbage can of two sick people living in North Rhine-Westphalia, the state's Consumer Affairs Ministry announced.
E.coli patients may need kidney transplants
“Around 100 patients have suffered such terrible kidney damage that they will require a transplant or have to undergo dialysis for the rest of their lives,” he told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
The aggressive enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) bacteria can cause haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), a potentially fatal kidney complaint. The killer bug has claimed at least 33 lives and has left some 3,000 people ill across 14 countries.
Lauterbach warned that further epidemics could not be ruled out. “EHEC pathogens are on the rise throughout the world. And Germany will also see repeated EHEC outbreaks in the future.”
Edited by Rogerdodger, 12 June 2011 - 10:28 AM.
