How to fight off E. coli

About the prevention of infections caused by enterohemorrhagic E. coliThe Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being informs that the situation related to the spread of enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EGCP) infection in the European region continues to become more complicated.

According to official data, as of June 1, 2011, more than 1,200 cases of severe clinical diseases were confirmed in 9 European countries in the laboratory, more than 10 of them were fatal. (At the moment, more than 2,000 cases of the disease have been registered in 11 countries and more than 20 deaths – VM.)

The most unfavorable situation is in the northern part of Germany, where the number of registered patients exceeds 1100 people.

Experts associate the spread of infection with the use of fresh vegetables that are not subjected to heat treatment (cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce).

Frequent manifestations of EGCP infection are diarrhea with blood and abdominal pain. A severe complication – hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), threatening the development of acute renal failure, may occur after the cessation of diarrhea.

People who are in Germany or have recently visited this country should seek medical help immediately if they experience symptoms of acute intestinal infection (fever, upset stool, abdominal pain).

It is impossible to use antidiarrheal and antibacterial drugs independently, because they may not be effective due to the special resistance of the microorganism, and they may also contribute to the deterioration of the patient's condition.

It must be remembered that the infection can be transmitted from person to person through food and household items, as well as from animals (for example, with milk). It is strongly recommended to wash your hands regularly, in particular before eating and cooking and after using the toilet. Keep the kitchen clean, observe the rules of food storage and cooking.

Before use, fresh vegetables should be thoroughly washed and scalded with boiling water, milk should be subjected to heat treatment.

Currently, there are no restrictions on visiting Germany and other countries of the European region, but when traveling abroad, you need to be prepared to follow simple hygiene rules.

Read it and tell your friend!The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a guide to action on food hygiene issues at the global level, which outlines five key techniques to prevent the occurrence of an infectious disease transmitted with food.

A beautiful and instructive leaflet, the text of which is given below, can be downloaded from the WHO website,
print it out and hang it, for example, on a stall with a shawarma – VM.

Five key techniques for the prevention of food infectionsKeep clean

• wash your hands before taking food and preparing food;
• wash your hands after the toilet;
• wash and disinfect all surfaces and kitchen utensils used for cooking;
• protect the kitchen and food from insects, rodents and other animals.

Separate raw and cooked

• separate raw meat, poultry and marine products from other food products;
• to process raw food, use separate kitchen appliances and accessories, such as knives and cutting boards;
• store food in a closed container to prevent contact between raw and finished products.

Fry or boil the products well

• thoroughly fry or boil foods, especially meat, poultry, eggs and marine products;
• bring dishes such as soups and roasts to a boil to be sure they have reached 70°C. When cooking meat or poultry, their juices should be transparent, not pink. The use of a thermometer is recommended;
• thoroughly heat the cooked foods.

Store food at a safe temperature

• do not leave cooked food at room temperature for more than 2 hours;
• cool all cooked and perishable food products without delay (preferably below 5°C);
• keep cooked dishes hot (above 60°C) until serving;
• do not store food for a long time, even in the refrigerator;
• do not defrost food at room temperature.

Use safe water and safe raw foods

• use safe water or ensure its safety as a result of treatment;
• choose products that have been processed in order to increase their safety, for example, pasteurized milk;
• wash fruits and vegetables, especially when they are served raw;
• do not consume expired products.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru08.06.2011