26.6.2012

Two children suspected of catching EHEC infection from unpasteurised milk

Untreated milk from Kuralan Kylämäki is suspected as being the source of an EHEC infection.  A total of five people are suspected of being infected from raw milk or indirectly from a person with the EHEC infection.

Sales of untreated milk from the farm were immediately stopped when the suspected source of infection was identified on the 19th of June. In addition, all visitors to the farm have been prevented from having any contact with farm animals. All regular visitors to the dairy farm who buy raw milk from there have contacted and informed of the situation.

EHEC is being tested for in samples taken from the milk, the animals and the production environment and the investigation is still in progress. Preliminary findings will be announced on Friday the 29th of June.

As a precautionary measure, the City of Turku’s Museum Centre today decided to close the Kuralan Kylämäki to visitors until further notice.

It is requested that all activity and movement in the area follows hygiene instructions.

How does EHEC spread?

Humans can be infected by contaminated, inadequately cooked raw meat or raw milk, unheated food, or through direct contact with a person carrying the bacteria, or with animal excrement that contains the bacteria.

What are the symptoms of the disease?

The most common symptoms of an EHEC infection are diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pains, and possibly fever. There can also be blood in the diarrhea. Children and the elderly are particularly predisposed to more serious forms of infection. A person with those symptoms, who has had contact with the farm’s raw milk or contact with a person who has been infected, is kindly requested to contact a health centre.