Epidemiology and Notable Outbreaks
HUS has a peak incidence between six months and four years of age.
HUS and the E. coli infections which caused it have been the source of much negative publicity for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meat industries, and fast-food restaurants since the 1990s, especially in the Jack in the Box contaminations. It was also featured in the Robin Cook novel Toxin. In 2006, an epidemic of harmful E. coli emerged in the United States due to contaminated spinach. The known cases have been reported at 183, including 29 cases of HUS. In June, 2009, Nestle Toll House cookie dough was linked to an outbreak of E. coli 0157:H7 in the United States, which sickened 70 people in 30 states.
In May, 2011 an epidemic of bloody diarrhea caused by E. coli O104:H4 hit Germany. The consumption of sprouts was identified as the most likely vehicle of infection. Tracing the epidemic revealed more than 4000 cases, with hemolytic-uremic syndrome developing in more than 800 of the cases, with 50 of them resulting in death. Over 90% of the cases were in adults.
Read more about this topic: Hemolytic-uremic Syndrome
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