The previous BECON (Germany Food Safety) report, dated 08 Sep 2025, confirmed 45 cases of E coli O45:H2, including 12 children who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). As of 16 Sep 2025, 107 cases of Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) have been linked to the outbreak. Of these, 53 are confirmed outbreak cases where the strain was identified, including 14 with HUS. Among the 54 suspected cases (probable or possible outbreak cases), 10 are HUS cases. No fatalities have been reported. The National Reference Center identified the outbreak strain as EHEC serotype O45:H2 carrying the stx2a, eaeA, and ehxA genes, and showing multiple antibiotic resistances. This combination of virulence factors can cause serious illness in humans, including hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The source of infection has not been identified despite thorough patient interviews, food testing, and environmental sampling. The O45:H2 serovar is rare in Germany, with only 13 strains detected among 10,633 samples in national genomic surveillance (2015–2025), including four linked to HUS. None of these strains is genetically closely related to the current outbreak strain. Laboratory confirmation of the O45:H2 strain now allows outbreak cases to be classified as confirmed, while cases lacking sufficient diagnostic evidence are categorized as suspected (probable or possible) outbreak cases. Genomic sequencing has confirmed that several isolates belong to the same cluster. Interviews suggest there is no single common exposure site, indicating that a contaminated food source probably caused the cases. @ https://beaconbio.org/en/report/?reportid=45b2d1e6-61af-4593-88af-3b1190d05da9&eventid=6c1cd171-b304-4692-b53b-1b1be60cb713&utm_source=email&utm_medium=digest&utm_campaign=daily
