Translation. Second Look. Fears grow in Sweden of local E coli outbreak

Jun 29, 2011, 12:34 GMT

Stockholm - The diagnosis of a Swedish man with an aggressive form of E coli poisoning has stoked fears that the country could be facing an outbreak of the disease similar to one experienced in Germany earlier this year, a Swedish broadcaster reported Wednesday.

Fifty-three Swedish people who had traveled to Germany this spring fell ill with type 0104 enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) after coming into contact with bean sprouts. The disease left more than 40 dead, including one person in Sweden.

But the case in Sweden's Schonen district involves a man who had neither been to Germany or come into contact with Germans recently, sparking fears that this case might stem from a local contaminant.

'If we see more such illnesses in Sweden, then the situation will be serious,' said Sofie Ivarsson, a spokeswoman with the National Institute for the Prevention of Contagious Diseases, in comments broadcast on the radio station SR.

However, officials noted that investigations were still underway.

The Swedish patient became infected in mid June and has, at times, been seriously ill.

On Monday, Sweden advised against the consumption of bean sprouts, whether imported or produced in Sweden.