New Strains of E coli Identified
Issued 1stFebruary 2001
Scientists have identified new strains of E.coli which pose similar risks to human health as the lethal E.coli 0157.
Dr Geraldine Duffy of the Teagasc National Food Centre told an international conference in Dublin (International Ecoli Conference, 8-10 February) that the new strains can cause equally severe and potentially fatal consequences as E.coli 0157. There have been two reported outbreaks of a new strain, called E.coli 026, in Ireland in the past 15 months.
E.coli 0157 has emerged as a serious public health hazard, resulting in a number of severe and fatal illnesses across Europe in recent years. It is located in the intestines of cattle and sheep and can be spread through water, food, person to person, animal to person or during the animal slaughtering process.
Dr Duffy, one of Teagasc's leading researchers on food safety, is co-ordinating an international research project on E.coli 0157 involving scientists from 31 European food and medical research institutes. The results of this comprehensive research project as well as results of similar research from the US, Australia and Japan were outlined to delegates attending the three-day Teagasc-organised conference.
Dr Duffy said that about 10% of people infected with this lethal pathogen develop kidney failure or other serious complications. Research has shown that, in 0.6% of cases, infection results in death. She said young children and the elderly are most at risk.
Dr Derval Igoe of the National Disease Surveillance Unit in Dublin told the conference that the first reported outbreak of E.coli 0157 in Ireland was in a children's developmental centre in 1995. Since 1996, there have been a total of 203 reported cases.
The peak year was 1998 with 76 cases while the number of reported cases dropped to 51 in 1999 and to 37 last year. The pathogen has resulted in the death of one child.
Dr Igoe said a detailed analysis of the incidences of E.coli 0157 infection in 1999 showed that 40% occurred in children under four years and a further 14% in five to nine year olds. This confirms that children are in the highest risk category.
She said the highest number of cases occurred in late summer. This mirrors research results for the pattern of E.coli 0157 infection in cattle. She also said that no food was linked to any case in 1999. However, 34% of those infected were exposed to farm animals while 10% were exposed to unpasteurised cheese and/or milk.
She said the two reported cases of the new strain, E.coli 026, occurred in a creche in Donegal in autumn 1999 and in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area last summer.
"By systematically collating information on each case identified, the epidemiology of E.coli in Ireland is emerging. It is clear that young children are most at risk and, given the potential for rapid spread in creches, prompt action is taken when a case is identified, as well as efforts at primary prevention through education of parents and staff", she said.
