Community-wide outbreak ofEscherichia coliO157:H7 associated with consumption of frozen beef burgers

Abstract

SUMMARYOn 24–25 October 2005 a cluster of five haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) cases was reported in southwest France. An investigation was undertaken to identify the outbreak source and implement control measures. Cases were defined as individuals with HUS or diarrhoea with isolation ofEscherichia coliO157:H7 in stools or a positive antibody response toE. coliO157 lipopolysaccharide, resident in southwest France with symptom onset after 19 September 2005. Sixty-nine identified patients had symptom onset between 5 October and 3 November 2005, including 17 cases of HUS. One brand of frozen beef burgers produced on 22 August 2005 was consumed by all patients in the week before symptom onset.E. coliO157:H7 strains from patients, patients' burgers and the manufacturing plant were genetically related. This is the largest community-wide outbreak ofE. coliO157:H7 in France to date and the first associated with consumption of contaminated frozen beef burgers.