E. COLI EHEC - NORWAY (02): O26, UNKNOWN SOURCE
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Date: Tue 8 Aug 2023
Source: Food Safety News [edited]
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2023/08/norway-hit-by-second-more-serious-e-coli-outbreak/
Norwegian officials are trying to find the source of another _E. coli_ outbreak that has affected half a dozen people.
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) said 6 people, living in different parts of the country, are sick.
Preliminary analyses show _E. coli_ O26:H11 has been detected in all those infected. FHI is now conducting whole genome sequencing for confirmation.
An _E. coli_ O157 outbreak was reported in June [2023]. That outbreak also affected 6 people but no-one developed serious illness. Two people fell ill in October and November 2022, while the remaining 4 became sick in February, March and May this year [2023]. They are between the ages of 14 and 49, and 5 are men.
Two HUS cases
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In the _E. coli_ O26 outbreak, infected people fell ill in July [2023] and none of them reported travel abroad. Four patients live in Trøndelag.
Those affected range in age from less than 5 to 45 years old. Two of them have developed the serious condition hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS is a severe complication associated with _E. coli_ infections that causes kidney failure.
Another _E. coli_-related HUS case has been reported but it is not yet clear if this person is also part of the _E. coli_ O26 outbreak.
Both outbreaks are being investigated by FHI, municipal chief medical officers, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) and the Veterinary Institute. The Norwegian Veterinary Institute will analyze samples of foods that are suspected as possible sources of infection. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority helps obtain information from sick people and their relatives.
Norway reported 518 _E. coli_ cases in 2022 and one outbreak affecting 7 people.
