25 May A dangerous bacteria sparks concern in Germany

A dangerous bacteria sparks concern in Germany

German health authorities were worried on Tuesday, the spread of a bacteria which causes bleeding of the digestive system and which led, perhaps a person's death.

"A woman aged 83 years died on 21 May after being admitted to hospital on 15 May for hemorrhagic colitis. Laboratory tests showed an infection" enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (Eceh) bacterium that causes problems serious, the Ministry of Health of Lower Saxony said in a statement.

However, an investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of death, the ministry added.

In the last two weeks, hundreds of confirmed cases of infection were recorded in Germany Eceh under Robert-Koch Institute (RKI), the federal institution in charge of monitoring and combating disease.

In hundreds of cases, over 80 patients have developed hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS).

"There were peaks in cases of HUS in the past but never in a short time, "said RKI in a statement released Tuesday.

RKI is also concerned that patients are primarily adults, while this disease generally affects young children.

Thus, in 2010, 65 cases of HUS RKI registered more than 9 percent of patients were over 18 years and two cases were fatal.

Not all infected people develop HUS Eceh. RKI According to statistics, 1,000 people are infected annually with this bacterium in Germany, most often without serious complications.

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