Escherichia coli is a bacteria that normally lives (and can be useful) inside the intestines of warm-blooded animals, but in another parts of the body it can cause damage, especially the violent strains. However, this is not at any rate a new thing. Cases of E.coli poisoning were often registered a long while ago, in villages where someone would make a septic hole near a drinking water source. How it made such an outbreak in Germany through vegetables is beyond me, however I do think it's a bit overblown. At any case, epidemic or no epidemic, always wash your vegetables (by washing i mean rub it under a stream of cold water)! The chances that a bacteria of that kind is inside the vegetable are next to none, so the problem is mainly the result of poor hygiene habits.
How it made such an outbreak in Germany through vegetables is beyond me, however I do think it's a bit overblown.
I don't think it's overblown, well maybe a bit, but it is serious. Why is it so dangerous? The bacteria may be one of many known types of E. coli, but it mutated and is resistent to a whole bunch of antibiotics. Last time I heard there were six deaths, many old people but also a 24 year old woman. Also, the cucumbers came from Spain where they were probably not washed or something like that, also I guess they mutated in those over-medicamented and pushed cattles, whose manure served as dung for the fields. But that's just my view of that right now.
I guess they mutated in those over-medicamented and pushed cattles, whose manure served as dung for the fields. But that's just my view of that right now.
Iv been told to wash all my veg thoroughly, Im guessing for this reason exactly.
The mutated E.coli hasn't ever been found on cucumbers, but now they've practically found the trace on various scions in a market garden somewhere in the north of germany. As many as 21 people are dead.
Iv been told to wash all my veg thoroughly, Im guessing for this reason exactly.
Yup, washing the vegetables is a basic hygiene rule even when there's no mutated bacterium killing people^^
If you just wash your veggies in cold water, then there really shouldn't be a problem. Also, you don't have to stop eating cucumbers, just don't get them from Germany :P
Well the fact not everywhere is infected shouldn't be too devestating (minus the obvious death toll atm) but for a short term fix of the problem, places infected can import, and places not infected can use local produce.
Does anyone think it's going to turn into a bacterial epidemic as such?
