Visitors to Europe from May 1 with bloody diarrhoea have been advised to undergo medical examination at nearby health centres.
Health director-general Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman said he received a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) on a bacterial outbreak in Germany.
Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS) resulted from contamination of the Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia Coli (EHEC) bacteria,” he said in a statement today.
“It ruptures red blood cells thus causing haemolytic anaemia, acute renal failure and low platelet count (thrombocytopenia).” Dr Hasan said the symptoms are abdominal cramp, vomiting and bloody diarrhoea (dysentery).
He said the bacterial infection spread via consumption of food contaminated with the E. Coli bacteria.
“The symptoms can cause dehydration, tiredness, lethargy, anaemia, uraemia and bleeding tendencies.” he added.
“The symptoms can be seen in three to eight days and victims usually recover after ten days without any complication,” he said.
It also infected a small number of children and the elderly and can lead to acute renal failure.
The mortality rate resulting from the bacterial infection stood at between five and 10 per cent.
Dr Hasan said preliminary studies found that the patient might have taken raw cucumber and tomato adding the ministry is monitoring imported cucumber.
However, information from the Food Safety Information System shows that no cucumber is imported from Germany or Spain.
Outbreak of the bacterial infection was first reported on April 25.
– Bernama
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