Police Collaboration Sought by CDU to Identify EHEC Origin - CDU Seeks Assistance from Police to Trace Origins
In the northeastern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, a special session of the Health Committee in the state parliament has been proposed to discuss the ongoing outbreak of EHEC, or enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli. This disease-causing strain of intestinal bacteria has been responsible for several cases of severe illness, particularly among children, as their underdeveloped immune system and organs make them more susceptible.
The special session was initiated by the opposition CDU, with CDU faction leader Daniel Peters expressing concern over the outbreak. He has called for the involvement of state police in searching for infection sources, as the authorities have yet to find the source of the outbreak.
As of mid-August, a total of 43 EHEC cases have been registered in the state. In 12 patients, mostly children, the infection triggered the hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), a potentially life-threatening condition caused by the Shiga toxins produced by these microorganisms.
Peters has proposed setting up a crisis team to facilitate coordination across departmental boundaries and has suggested that Interior Minister Christian Pegel (SPD) should have taken the initiative to involve the police earlier. He emphasized that responsibilities should not become an obstacle when dealing with an outbreak of this magnitude.
Peters is also concerned about the upcoming school start, fearing that it could lead to rapid spread of infections among children. Many families from other federal states who spent their holidays in the northeast are also affected, adding to the concern.
EHEC is particularly common in ruminants, but a food trigger for the outbreak could not yet be identified, according to the state health office. Peters believes that the coexistence of different authorities has not led to a swift clarification of the outbreak.
Currently, 15 affected people are still being treated in hospital. The exact date of the planned special session of the Health Committee in the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state parliament is not provided in the available search results.
The outbreak serves as a reminder of the importance of swift and coordinated action in dealing with health crises. The authorities continue to investigate the source of the outbreak and work towards containing its spread.
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