Norway ‘Christmas Party’ E.coli outbreak declared over
Image/CDC
The outbreak of “Tourist diarrhea” or enterotoxigenic Eschericia coli (ETEC) at a Ringerike, Norway hotel Christmas party has been declared over, according to a Folkehelsinstituttet new release Dec. 21 (machine translated).
The gastrointestinal outbreak sickened at least 319 people after eating a Christmas buffet at Klækken Hotels Hønefoss during the period of Dec. 4-9.
Six people were reported as requiring hospitalization for their illness. Guests had mainly diarrhea and abdominal pain, some had vomiting and fever.
The source of the outbreak has not been ascertained.
Preliminary results of surveys made among the guests at the hotel during the relevant period, may indicate that the source of infection is the cold food from the buffet. FSA continues to work on mapping and analysis of these foods .
The Folkehelsinstituttet says since there have been no reports of illness after Dec. 9, the outbreak is over.
According to Norway health authorities, ETEC is a common cause of traveler’s diarrhea in people from industrialized countries visiting developing countries, but is also the major cause of diarrhea in children in developing countries.
Tourist diarrhea caused by ETEC is almost always contracted before returning home. It is not known until recently that such imported strains have been the cause of outbreaks in Norway. The bacteria are a rare cause of outbreaks in the other Scandinavian countries, but Denmark have reported outbreaks related to imported food in recent years.
E. coli are part of the normal flora in the intestine of all humans and warm-blooded animals. Some groups of E. coli (which is not part of the normal flora) can cause various types of intestinal infections in humans. ETEC is one of these variants.
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[…] Norway 'Christmas Party' E.coli outbreak declared overThe Global DispatchAccording to Norway health authorities, ETEC is a common cause of traveler's diarrhea in people from industrialized countries visiting developing countries, but is also the major cause of diarrhea in children in developing countries. Tourist diarrhea … […]
[…] According to Norway health authorities, ETEC is a common cause of traveler's diarrhea in people from industrialized countries visiting developing countries, but is also the major cause of diarrhea in children in developing countries. Tourist diarrhea …Norway 'Christmas Party' E.coli outbreak declared overThe Global DispatchAccording to Norway health authorities, ETEC is a common cause of traveler's diarrhea in people from industrialized countries visiting developing countries, but is also the major cause of diarrhea in children in developing countries. Tourist diarrhea … Go to Source […]
[…] can be declared over before Christmas, but that’s what Norwegian health types have done after 319 people were struck with tourist diarrhea or enterotoxigenic Eschericia coli (ETEC) at a Ringerike, Norway […]
[…] According to Norway health authorities, ETEC is a common cause of traveler's diarrhea in people from industrialized countries visiting developing countries, but is also the major cause of diarrhea in children in developing countries. Tourist diarrhea …Norway 'Christmas Party' E.coli outbr…The Global DispatchAccording to Norway health authorities, ETEC is a common cause of traveler's diarrhea in people from industrialized countries visiting developing countries, but is also the major cause of diarrhea in children in developing countries. Tourist diarrhea … Go to Source […]