Never before seen mutant E coli strain in Europe may be transmitting person to person.

Source: Toronto Star

**Canadian experts alarmed at spread of mutant E. coli in Europe**


Canadian experts in E. coli bacteria say a mutant strain spreading across Europe is alarming in the way it keeps eluding scientists.

snip

Also troubling, said Warriner, were the number of women in their mid-30s who were affected by a type of food poisoning that usually inflicts the elderly or the very young.

That, he said, raises the spectre of “person to person transmission” through feces. A strictly food-borne outbreak typically peaks more quickly, while this one has multiplied dramatically in several days.

Could it come to Canada? Of course, the scientists said, if a traveller brings it back.



http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1001705--canadian-experts-alarmed-at-spread-of-mutant-e-coli-in-europe


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Experts say anyone coming back from Germany who is experiencing symptoms of food poisioning to seek immediate medical attention.



:(

Ask me next month.

which was very contagious. Out of 1700 cases, 500 have Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) which is a a disease that affects the kidneys and other organs. Some are on dialysis.



edit to remove misstatement that 500 are on dialysis

you are watching evolution in action... life span for bacteria are so damn low that yes you get to see it.

They are NOT YET calling this a superbug, but it has all the characteristics of one. I think they are afraid of pulling that trigger and calling it what it is.

This BETTER not be a contagious disease. Food-borne is one thing. Direct person-to-person spread is another thing entirely.

On the bright side, it might do enough damage to solve a number of our economic problems, like funding Medicare and homeless assistance and such. Because with diseases like this, it's the old and weak and sick who die in greatest numbers.

The other strange thing is that the people most at risk ar women in their 30s. The Daily Mail suggests this is due perhaps to women eating more salads. :shrug:

She is a vegetarian, as is her new husband. They love their fresh produce and salads.

:wtf:

Every. Effin'. Time????????????????

Maybe it'll just kill the people weakened by cell phone use.

Half of all antibiotics are used on farm animals.
It's insanity.

Hypochondriacs demand antibiotics for viral infections.

One of the greatest advances in medicine is being squandered.

When super-bacteria overcome the strongest antibiotics, we're screwed.

I'm one of them; that's why I'm not supposed to be around babies/toddlers - because of their e coli load (so to speak); normal people have the ability to resist being infected that easily. Sounds like this strain is 'outwitting' healthy defense mechanisms. Wash your hands; carry your own toilet paper; clean shopping cart handles and baskets (and your hands again) and learn to love dishpan hands.