title: Nationwide outbreak of STEC O157 infection in the Netherlands, December 2008-January 2009: continuous risk of consuming raw beef products.
abstract: The Netherlands experienced a nationwide outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157 with onset of symptoms from the end of December 2008 until the end of January 2009. A total of 20 laboratory-confirmed cases were linked to the outbreak strain, serotype O157: H-, stx1, stx2, eae and e-hly positive. The investigation into the source of this outbreak is still ongoing, but evidence so far suggests that infection occurred as a result of consuming contaminated raw meat (steak tartare).
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu, RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands. Katie.Greenland@rivm.nl
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Greenland
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Jager
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heuvelink
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: van der Zwaluw
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heck
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Notermans
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van Pelt
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Friesema
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002648:Child; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult