An investigation carried out by experts working for various public bodies concludes that raw minced beef was the most probable source of the STEC bacteria infection among residents of 11 residential care homes across Belgium in August. 70 people became ill and 9 people died as a result of the STEC infections.
Raw minced beef “the likely source” of STEC infection that claimed 9 lives in Belgian care homes
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The most recent death of someone that had become infected with STEC bacteria was only last week at a care home in Leuven (Flemish Brabant). In addition to the care home in Leuven, they were STEC infections at residential care homes in Antwerp, Jette (Brussels) Aalst (East Flanders) and several residential care homes in Wallonia.
During the past few weeks, experts from the Flemish Care Department, the Brussels care agency Vivalis, the Walloon quality of life agency Aviq, the Federal Food Safety Agency (FAVV), the public heath science agency Sciensano and the National Reference Centre examined what those that had become infected had eaten. They analysed more than 70 samples taken from food left on plates and products from the supply chain. Their research concludes that raw minced beef is “the most probable cause of the infections”. Beef from the same lot had been served at all the care homes where residents had become infected.
However, FAVV’s spokeswoman Hélène Bonte, says that "As there were no more samples available from the lot of beef concerned, analysis in a laboratory can not confirm with certainty that it was the source of the infection.
STEC
STEC stands for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, a type of E. coli bacteria that can cause severe illness like bloody diarrhea and, in some cases, a serious complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
Infections are typically spread through contaminated food or water, contact with animals, or person-to-person contact, and can lead to symptoms such as stomach cramps and vomiting. High-risk individuals, including young children, pregnant women, and the elderly, face a greater chance of severe illness.