Government and Policy

China beefs up monitoring of E. coli

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-01 21:24

BEIJING - The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday urged increased surveillance over E. coli (EHEC) following a food-borne bacterial outbreak that originated in Germany.

In a circular issued on its website, the MOH ordered medical institutions at all levels to beef up monitoring on suspected EHEC cases and to report these cases promptly to the ministry.

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The public, especially those who have traveled to Germany since April, should visit a hospital as soon as possible if related symptoms are found, the circular said.

Although these patients need not to be isolated, the MOH has ordered stringent disinfection in hospitals, as the EHEC bacteria can easily cause infection.

EHEC is a virulent strain of gut bacterium that can cause severe upset stomach, diarrhea, and stroke. In extreme cases, it can lead to a coma or kidney failure.

Germany suffered an E. coli (0104 strain) outbreak a month ago that has killed at least 16 people in Europe and sent hundreds to hospitals with hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS).

The World Health Organization (WHO) voiced concern over the EHEC cases on May 26, as they have been reported in nine European countries - Austria, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.