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ECDC: Lessons Learned On EHEC Outbreak

 



# 5677

 

 

At an informal health council meeting in Sopot, Poland over July 5th-6th, ECDC director Dr. Marc Sprenger delivered a speech on the lessons learned from the recent EHEC/STEC outbreak that began in Germany in mid-May.

 

The presentation was called "Outbreak of EHEC/STEC in Germany: Lessons Learned.", and the director cited the most obvious lesson as being `the EU is still vulnerable to epidemics’.

 

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The entire presentation is available in the 2-page PDF file above, but a few excerpts include:

 

Lessons learned on how to further strengthen EU
cooperation against epidemics


Now for some lessons learned on how to further strengthen cooperation against epidemics


During this outbreak, it was very useful having an ECDC liaison officer embedded in the German outbreak investigation team – both for ECDC, and our German partners. It made information sharing much easier. ECDC is now developing some standard terms of reference for this liaison officer role, which we would like to agree with our national partners. If we can do this ahead of the next outbreak, then we can deploy a liaison officer even more quickly and efficiently. 


Let me leave you with my top four lessons learned on further strengthening our defences.

  • Firstly, investment in microbiology is key. We need good labs in Europe to tackle outbreaks.

  • Secondly, we should use temporary platforms to exchange clinical information during outbreaks.

  • Thirdly, cross-sectoral cooperation is essential in all outbreaks, but particularly food borne outbreaks. Remember that “one voice” information to policy makers and citizens is key.

  • Fourthly, remember that what looks like a local outbreak can quickly become an EU-wide event.

 

 

With remnants of the outbreak still underway, and many questions about the source and evolution of this virulent strain of E. Coli still unanswered, the final after-action report on this outbreak has yet to be written.

 

According to the latest ECDC figures (released July 6th), 50 people have died from this outbreak, and more than 4200 have been sickened.

 

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Although the number of new cases continues to decline, there remain concerns that contaminated sprout seeds (believed to be behind this outbreak) may still be in the food pipeline.

 

The EFSA continues to advise to people: not to grow sprouts for their own consumption and not to eat sprouts or sprouted seeds unless they have been cooked thoroughly.

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