Joint ECDC/EFSA rapid outbreak assessment: multi-country outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection associated with haemolytic uraemic syndrome in Romania and Italy

Information collected from patients points towards a milk processing establishment in Romania as a possible source of infection. Several strains of STEC have been identified so far, and it is possible that multiple sources of contamination have contributed to this outbreak.

The recall of suspected food products has been undertaken by food safety authorities in Romania, Italy and other countries who have imported the suspected food items. However, potentially contaminated items could still be present in households. Since the precise source of contamination has not yet been identified, cases possibly linked to the this outbreak may occur in Romania and in those EU countries to which the implicated food products have been distributed.

To minimise the further spread of the infection and investigate possible new cases promptly, ECDC and EFSA recommend EU Member States to consider enhancing monitoring for HUS and STEC cases. In addition, if new cases possibly linked to the outbreak are identified, these should be reported to the Epidemic Intelligence Information System for food- and waterborne diseases (EPIS-FWD).

The investigation of the European dimension of this multi-country foodborne outbreak has demonstrated the added value of collaboration between Romanian and Italian public health and food authorities as well as ECDC and EFSA in enabling appropriate risk assessment and response.

• Multi-country outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection associated with haemolytic uraemic syndrome