In Belgium, according to a joint statement released on Monday by various regional health agencies, eight people have died since mid-August after being infected with the Shiga-Toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), including one in Wallonia and seven in Flanders. Sixty-three people are sick with symptoms of STEC infection. The outbreak has impacted eight nursing homes in Flanders, all linked to the O157. Investigations are also underway at three nursing homes in Wallonia. Laurent Hubin, spokesperson for the Brussels public health agency Vivalis, stated that the contamination is foodborne and likely originates from the same source as the cases in Flanders. Belgium’s Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (Afsca) announced it is conducting a detailed investigation in collaboration with regional authorities to trace the source of the contamination. @ https://www.brusselstimes.com/1727303/eight-deaths-now-confirmed-in-belgium-due-to-e-coli-outbreak
