E.coli Bacteria Outbreak in Europe
From nytimes.com:
is oral-faecal and that makes unlikely a pandemic. Though that seems a new E Coli strain and therefore
Have you ever thought E. coli bacteria could be airborne? The recent E. coli bacteria outbreak in Europe is causing serious illness and death. Farmers are losing millions of dollars worth of crops. Russia is concerned about the safety of eating cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce from Spain and Germany for fear they could contain a deadly strain of E. coli bacteria. Is it the food, how did it get on the food? Is this type of E. coli bacteria airborne?
Europeans with E. coli bacteria are having further complications by developing HUS (Humolytic-uremic syndrome). HUS is a disorder that occurs when an infection in the digestive tract produces toxic substances that destroy red blood cells. This destruction of the red blood cells in turn starts shutting down the kidneys and can cause kidney failure and death.
HUS is often associated with an infection of E.coli bacteria. Humolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) more often occurs in children and is the most common cause of kidney failure. If an adult has HUS it is much more complicated and is associated with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Some of the symptoms of HUS are vomiting and diarrhea. Blood may be present in the vomit or stool. Weakness and irritability can set in as little as a week. Urination may lesson and even stop completely. Anemia, lethargy, decreased consciousness, bruising, and jaundice may also occur. With proper treatment more than half of those infected can recover.
The website below discusses airborne E. coli.
http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/sb-ESD-cataloging-bacteria.html