As of Tuesday, the toll in the outbreak of E. coli O104:H4 attributed to raw sprouts in Europe had risen to 4,023 cases, including 885 with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and 48 deaths, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported.
The total now includes the cluster of E. coli O104:H4 cases in France, even though the agency says authorities are still investigating “whether there is any link between that cluster and the large outbreak” in Germany.
Most of the French case patients had attended a June 8 community event in Bègles near Bordeaux and ate sprouts in various dishes. The ECDC said that as of June 27, nine people have been hospitalized, eight with HUS.
But the agency said epidemiological investigations have shown no link between one of the hospitalized patient, who does not have HUS, and the event in Bègles. An additional four people who were at the event are ill; three have been confirmed to be infected with O104:H4.
Swedish and Danish officials say their countries each have confirmed cases of E. coli O104:H4 infections with no direct link to Germany. In Denmark, the case was actually reported in May, and it remains unclear how the person was infected.
