Latest news with #Escherichiacoli
IOL News
3 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
Study raises growing danger of foodborne diseases after Cape Town restaurant outbreak
Urgent calls for enhanced hygiene practices across the food industry have been made following findings from a recent study in the Public Health Bulletin South Africa. Image: Pexels / Eric Montanah Last year's outbreak of foodborne illness at a Cape Town restaurant has prompted urgent calls for improved hygiene practices and staff training across the food industry, following the release of a study published this week in the Public Health Bulletin South Africa (PHBSA). The February 2024 outbreak affected 46 people, including 12 restaurant staff and 34 patrons. Laboratory tests confirmed 33 of the cases were caused by Shigella species or enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC), both of which can cause severe stomach illness. Shigella species refer to a group of bacteria responsible for causing shigellosis, which is a diarrheal illness. Lead investigator Janine Bezuidenhoudt said the incident illustrates the growing danger of foodborne diseases in South Africa. 'Globally, 600 million people fall ill and 420,000 die every year after consuming contaminated food. Low- and middle-income countries are particularly vulnerable, with 137,000 people dying annually in Africa,' she said. She noted that the increase in foodborne illnesses this year contributed to the declaration of a national disaster. 'Restaurants, tuck shops, and fast-food establishments can all be sources of these illnesses,' Bezuidenhoudt said. Inspections at the restaurant revealed poor food storage practices, including overstocked cold storage and failure to use the 'first-in, first-out' method. Although the precise source of contamination could not be confirmed, investigators believe it was likely caused by either a contaminated food item or an infected food handler. 'I hope this study continues the conversation about the risk and importance of foodborne diseases and how they can be prevented. We urgently need national Shigella guidelines to guide outbreak responses,' Bezuidenhoudt said. She also urged people to seek medical care when ill. 'It is crucial for individuals with foodborne illness to seek healthcare for proper diagnosis and treatment, including specimen collection,' she said. According to the Notifiable Medical Conditions system, 437 foodborne outbreaks were reported between 2022 and 2024, but underreporting remains a concern. The public is reminded to practise good food hygiene by washing hands, cleaning surfaces and utensils, separating raw and cooked food, and cooking food thoroughly to at least 75°C. The PHBSA is a joint initiative of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases and the National Institute for Occupational Health. THE MERCURY
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Northland kūmara growers ready for new Freshwater Farm Plan rules
The aim is to improve water quality and reverse past damage to waterways while recognising the good work many growers were already doing. According to Northland Regional Council, the region's biggest freshwater problems are high levels of sediment and Escherichia coli (E. coli), and a lack of riparian vegetation to support healthy ecosystems. The new rules were designed to address these problems and ensure growers operated within environmental limits. Blundell said Northland growers had been working with Horticulture New Zealand's (HortNZ) Growing Change programme and Kaipara Moana Remediation (KMR) to ensure their Freshwater Farm Plans were ready before the rollout. Through Growing Change, HortNZ provided one-on-one support from horticultural consultants to help growers develop their plans using the NZ Good Agricultural Practice (NZGAP) Environmental Management System (EMS) add-on. Blundell's company and its suppliers were among the first to gain NZGAP accreditation. Growing Change also partnered with KMR to build resilience across the Northland/Te Tai Tokerau kūmara industry, including through native planting schemes. Kūmara is gaining popularity overseas and widely considered a superfood. Photo / Unsplash, Mary Potoplyak Blundell said support was critical as growers faced escalating costs and increasing regulation. 'There's a compliance cost – and all the costs of growing keep rising: machinery, diesel, fertiliser, electricity, rates, freight, and land.' HortNZ chief executive Kate Scott said that with mounting pressure on the horticulture sector, regulatory settings needed to support growers like those producing kūmara in Northland to keep growing healthy, affordable food. Blundell also serves on the executive of United Fresh, which promotes fruit and vegetables to consumers. He said another threat to the sector – and NZ's food security – was a shift in consumer habits from fresh vegetables to cheaper, less nutritious options like rice or pasta. Blundell said sweet potato was gaining popularity overseas in Europe, Spain, and the United States and was widely recognised as a superfood. Kūmara holds deep cultural importance. The Ōwairaka red variety, commonly used in hāngī, is not grown anywhere else in the world. The vegetable's significance to Māori was recognised under the Wai 262 claim to the Waitangi Tribunal, which protected taonga Māori. New Zealand does not import kūmara – a status Blundell said is worth protecting. Biosecurity risks were high, and almost all kūmara grown locally was consumed domestically, with only some frozen wedges exported to Australia. Most kūmara production is based in Northland/Te Tai Tokerau, which supplies 90% of the domestic market. It is a vital industry for this region, where a socio-economic profile of Kaipara district last year found 42.3% of residents lived in the most deprived decile. Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on a wide range of issues. She has nearly 20 years' experience in journalism, much of which she spent court reporting. She is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.
IOL News
18-07-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Foodborne illness outbreak in Cape Town restaurant prompts calls for improved food safety
Environmental health inspections revealed issues including overstocking of cold storage and non-compliance with the "first-in, first-out" principle at a Cape Town restaurant. Image: Supplied Food handling practices and inadequate hygiene among staff members may have contributed to the spread of a foodborne disease (FBD) outbreak resulting in the closure of a Cape Town restaurant. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) yesterday released the findings of an investigation into circumstances leading to 46 suspected cases of Shigella spp. or enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) - closely related bacteria that cause gastroenteritis, or stomach flu, in humans. Shigella spp. is highly contagious and can result in asymptomatic infection to severe bloody diarrhoea. Fever, headache, malaise and vomiting are often the initial symptoms. The report details how on February 8, 2024, the Western Cape Provincial Communicable Disease Control Co-ordinator received a notification from the NICD concerning a potential FBD outbreak linked to a restaurant. 'At approximately 10pm, a general practitioner (GP) informed the NICD of two patients who had presented at his practice with severe diarrhoea and high temperatures. The patients reported that they were a party of five, all of whom had consumed prawns during dinner at (the) restaurant." Three of these patrons were admitted to private hospitals with gastrointestinal symptoms. The GP also informed the restaurant of the cases via email. The City Health Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) were informed on February 9, 2024, and an outbreak investigation and response was initiated. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'The outbreak investigation and response were conducted to confirm the existence of an outbreak, identify additional cases, identify the source of the outbreak, and implement control measures. On February 10, 2024, two of the hospitalised patients tested positive for Shigella spp./Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.' Overall, 46 suspected cases were identified: 12 staff members and 34 patrons. Clinical specimens (stool or rectal swabs) were collected from 49 individuals, and 33 tested positive for Shigella spp./Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) - 6 patrons and 27 staff members. Following the incident, an environmental health inspection was done. Ultimately researchers concluded that food handling practices and inadequate hygiene among staff members may have contributed to the spread of enteric pathogens during the outbreak. Environmental health inspections revealed issues including overstocking of cold storage and non-compliance with the "first-in, first-out" principle. While a definitive source of contamination could not be identified, contaminated food or a food handler was likely responsible. The closure of the restaurant and prompt public and environmental health actions prevented the occurrence of additional cases. Following investigations, several interventions were implemented, including retraining of staff members on food safety, chemical safety, and effective hand and personal hygiene. The restaurant was deep-cleaned and disinfected, researchers said. Lead investigator Janine Bezuidenhoudt said: 'Restaurants, tuck shops, and fast-food establishments can all be sources of these illnesses. I hope this study continues the conversation about the risk and importance of foodborne diseases and how they can be prevented. We urgently need national Shigella guidelines to guide outbreak responses. It is also crucial for individuals with foodborne illness to seek healthcare for proper diagnosis and treatment, including specimen collection.' Cape Times
Hans India
17-07-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Diarrhea outbreak kills 4 in eight days in Jharkhand's Dumka village, several others fall ill
Dumka (Jharkhand): Diarrhea has claimed four lives in just eight days in Bedia, a tribal-dominated village in the Jarmundi block of Jharkhand's Dumka district. Several other residents have taken ill, prompting urgent medical intervention from the district administration. The medical crisis came to light after former state minister and senior Congress leader Badal Patralekh informed Dumka Deputy Commissioner and Jharkhand Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari about the outbreak and the rising number of fatalities on Thursday. The first casualty was Sangeeta Marandi, who died on July 7, followed by her son Arvind Soren on July 10. On Thursday, July 17, two more deaths were reported -- Lakhiram's wife and Bablu Kisko. Taking cognisance of the situation, Dr Ansari immediately directed the Deputy Commissioner and Civil Surgeon to rush a medical team to the village with life-saving medicines and essential supplies. The team reached the village on Thursday afternoon and has now begun treatment and containment efforts. Badal Patralekh, who also shared the incident on social media, warned that the affected area is close to the Basukinath Shravani Mela zone. He said any further spread of the infection could pose a serious public health risk during the upcoming pilgrimage season. Calling the deaths 'deeply saddening,' the former minister demanded urgent strengthening of healthcare infrastructure in tribal regions to prevent such tragedies. He also urged the administration to provide immediate financial aid and compensation to the affected families. Meanwhile, the health department team has launched an investigation into the outbreak. Contaminated drinking water is suspected to be the primary cause, and water sources in the village are being tested. A number of conditions can cause diarrhea, including viruses. Exposure to certain bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, or parasites through contaminated food or water can also lead to diarrhea.
AsiaOne
17-07-2025
- Health
- AsiaOne
NEA monitoring E. coli at Sentosa after elevated bacteria levels delay World Aquatics events, Singapore News
SINGAPORE — The National Environment Agency (NEA) has started monitoring levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli) at Sentosa's beaches, following news that swimming events at the World Aquatics Championships were twice delayed due to elevated levels of the bacteria in the waters. NEA does not usually assess marine water quality based on E. coli levels. Instead, it follows World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines to determine the suitability of a recreational beach for primary contact activities, by measuring the levels of another group of bacteria, Enterococcus. In response to queries from The Straits Times, NEA said that WHO recommends using only Enterococcus for assessing marine water quality. Epidemiological studies have shown a strong correlation between Enterococcus levels in marine waters and public health risks. NEA said that its weekly water monitoring showed that the water quality at Sentosa beaches has been in the "normal" range in the past few weeks. The recreational beaches are also graded every six months based on the past 100 samples. NEA said that the Sentosa beaches were graded "good" in the latest grading exercise in January 2025, and suitable for swimming and other primary contact activities. While most strains are harmless, some can cause serious illnesses such as diarrhoea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia and sepsis. Meanwhile, Enterococcus is another group of bacteria - also naturally found in the intestines of animals and humans - which can also cause urinary tract infections and gall bladder infections. It can also sometimes be found in soil, water and plants. The bacteria can also survive longer in marine environments. ST previously reported that World Aquatics adopts stricter water quality standards compared to guidelines set for recreational swimming, given the prolonged exposure faced by athletes during competition, with 10km races typically lasting around two hours. The men and women's races were later again pushed to 1pm and 4pm respectively on July 16 as the results from a sample taken on Tuesday (July 15) morning showed that the levels are still above "acceptable thresholds" despite improvement. The next open water swimming events are men and women's 5km races scheduled for July 18. World Aquatics had said that regular water quality monitoring and testing continues throughout the competition period to ensure athlete safety, with the health and safety of all participants continuing to guide all competition-related decisions. Associate Professor Yann Boucher, co-director for the climate, environment and health programme at NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, said that athletes are more at risk as the strenuous exercise can lead to swallowing more water as compared with recreational swimming. "The length of time spent in the water can also contribute as the risk is proportional to how much water is swallowed," he added. Experts said that potential sources could vary from animals and humans to wastewater discharge. Professor Boucher said that the bacteria can come from various sources such as birds, humans swimming, wastewater leakage or discharge - which he said is often linked to the systems being overwhelmed by heavy downpours. Professor Paul Tambyah, past president of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, said that it could also come from boats which are not properly disposing of human or animal waste. [[nid:720302]] This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
