CONTAMINATED WATER

The outbreak in Germany of Escherichia coli or E coli is believed to be the very rare strain 0104. Latest figures claim that 1150 people have been infected which has resulted in 373 becoming very ill resulting in the death of 16 with Haemolytic uraemic Syndrome (HUS). Most E coli bacteria are normally harmless and are very common but a few strains can cause severe illness ...the rare 0104 strain is one such. HUS symptoms include bloody diarrhoea, kidney failure and epileptic fits.