VTEC bacteria spreads to Suðuroy

The VTEC bacterium has now been identified in Suðuroy after an adult was diagnosed with the bacterium.

A child in Suðuroy, who also fell ill around the same time, is also being checked for the bacterium.

This comes after Chief Medical Officer Lars Fodgaard Møller warned against this bacterium last week following an outbreak in a day-care centre in Miðvágur.

 >> SEE ALSO: Bacterial infection in day-care centre

VTEC is a particular group of the Escherichia coli bacterium. Although most strains of E. coli are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals, VTEC strains produce a powerful toxin and can cause severe illness.

In some people, particularly children under the age of 5 and the elderly, the infection can also cause a complication called haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) in which red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys can stop working properly. This happens in up to 10 percent of cases. HUS is the principal cause of acute kidney failure in children.

People or animals infected with VTEC can pass it on in their faeces into soil, water and food.

Frequent and thorough handwashing is said to be the best prevention against VTEC.

Translated by prosa.fo