An increase in Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections has prompted a warning from health officials in the Czech Republic.
The National Institute of Public Health (SZU) reported that in the first six months of this year 25 cases were registered and 15 of them occurred in the last two months.
Eight were reported in May and seven in June. This is more than half of all cases so far in 2022. The majority of those sick are children under the age of five. In 2021, 46 cases were registered.
Sick people come from all over the country but mostly from Prague, the regions of South Moravia and South Bohemia. Twelve infections were caused by E. coli O26 and six by E. coli O157.
People can become infected by contact with animals, eat sufficiently cooked meat, drink unpasteurized milk, or come into contact with an infected person.
Increase in summerSZU said the disease is often associated with seasonal activities, such as barbecues, or visits to animal farms or zoos. The agency urged people to pay attention to hygiene and proper food preparation.
As of 2018, 165 STEC infections have been reported in the Czech Republic, and 47 people have been hospitalized. Of these, 37 were children under 5 and one died.
The symptoms of E. coli infections vary per person but often include severe stomach cramps and diarrhea, which is often bloody. Some patients may also have a fever. The time it takes to start having symptoms after being infected is usually three to four days and most patients recover within five to seven days.
About 5 to 10 percent of those diagnosed with E. coli infections develop a potentially life-threatening complication of kidney failure, known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Symptoms of HUS include fever, abdominal pain, feeling very tired, decreased urinary frequency, unexplained bruising or small bleeding, and pale.
This condition can occur in people of all ages but is most common in children under five due to their immature immune systems, older adults due to deteriorating immune systems, and people with compromised immune systems such as cancer patients.
SZPIS annual report Meanwhile, the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (SZPI) revealed almost a quarter of the food items checked were non-compliant in 2021.
The annual report covers food supplements, online food sales checks, honey, olive oil and authenticity of saffron and ethylene oxide in spices and sesame seeds.
The agency found 3,202 batches of food and other non-compliant products. Nearly 27 percent of food items from non-EU countries have failed to comply with national or European legislation. Almost 20 percent of lots from EU countries had infringements as well as 16.2 percent of domestic products. The highest percentage of non-compliant lots was chocolate and sweets; dehydrated products, liquid flavorings, dressings, salt and mustard.
The main category found to be microbiologically hazardous was meat products, followed by dairy and bakery products. The highest safety violation was the growth of visible mold and decay due to microbial activity.
Salmonella has been found in five batches of fresh chicken and two batches of ready-to-cook meat-based foods. Vibrio parahaemolyticus was found in two batches of shrimp. Listeria monocytogenes was found in three batches of delicatessen products from a production plant.
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli or enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) was found in three batches of steak tartare on the market and also in one cold dish of steak tartare from a restaurant. EPEC was also found in radish seeds picked from the market. Campylobacter was discovered in two batches of hot kebab and ready doner meals.
In 2021, 2,407 administrative proceedings were concluded against food businesses, in which fines amounting to $ 3.8 million were imposed. SZPI imposed 11,285 bans on the marketing of food items last year, and the value of the banned items amounted to $ 2.5 million.
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