E coli outbreak in Europe linked to super virulent mutant strain
03 Jun 2011
The killer E coli outbreak sweeping Europe has been identified as a new super– virulent mutant strain.
Three Britons had taken ill along with four others due to the bug in the UK and all are thought to have contracted it in Germany.
According to the World Health Organisation it was a combination of two particularly dangerous aggressive bacteria that led to the outbreak.
The infection, which is said to have spread via Spanish cucumbers, has already taken a heavy toll of 18 in Europe (See: Hundreds take ill in Germany in deadly E coli infection outbreak).
Among symptoms that have been reported are epilepsy, headaches and slurred speech.
According to WHO expert Hilde Kruse, this was a unique strain of E bacteria not isolated from patients before. He added it had various characteristics that make it more virulent and toxin-producing.
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