Update on E.coli outbreak in Germany and cluster in France

France has reported a cluster of eight patients with bloody diarrhoea who were infected with E.coli after having participated in an event in the commune of Bègles around Bordeaux on 8 June. Of these, seven have developed HUS, a severe complication of E. coli infection. In three of the patients, infection with E. coli O104:H4 has been confirmed. The French authorities are investigating this new cluster of STEC – the suspected vehicle of infection for the cases and whether there is any link between that cluster and the large outbreak reported from Germany. Since 25 June in the EU/EEA, 880 HUS cases, including 31 deaths, and 3,039 non-HUS cases, including 16 deaths have so far been reported. ECDC is continuously monitoring the enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) outbreak in Germany and other EU Member States. For further information, please see the epidemiological updates which include the most recent...