7/3/2012

Questionnaire survey concerning the EHEC infection at Kuralan Kylämäki

EHEC bacteria found at Kuralan Kylämäki

On Friday 29 June it was confirmed that the samples taken from Kuralan Kylämäki contained EHEC bacteria. The investigations are still ongoing. Six children are confirmed as fallening ill as a result of an EHEC infection, which is suspected to originate from unpasteurised milk produced at Kuralan Kylämäki.

Samples taken from the farm have been found to contain EHEC bacterium. The Animal Disease Prevention Association (ETT) is currently monitoring the situation at Kylämäki. The City of Turku’s Museum Centre is keeping Kuralan Kylämäki closed until the investigation is over. It is requested that all activity and movement in the area follows general hygiene instructions.

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.

To monitor the situation a survey that studies the users of unpasturised milk and visitors to the farm has been prepared

Surveys will be used to study the condition of those who visited the farm and were exposed to or fell ill with the EHEC infection as well as those who purchase unpasturised milk from the farm. This will be done in collaboration with the National Institute for Health and Welfare and the Southwest Finland Hospital District.

There are two questionnaires. One will investigate the use of unpasteurised milk in households, while the other will collect information on those who regularly bought unpasteurised milk at the farm and those who visited the farm, irrespective of whether they fell ill or not. It is kindly requested that the questionnaires be answered before 22 July, 2012.

• Questionnaire on the use of unpasturised milk (in Finnish)
• Questionnaire for visitors to Kuralan Kylämäki (in Finnish)

How does EHEC spread?

The infection is generally spread through fecal contamination and inadequately cooked raw meat or through drinking and bathing water. Infection can also spread through hand-to-hand contact, or by touching an animal that carries the bacteria. A person who has the bacteria can carry it in their body for one to three weeks after the symptoms of infection have ended.

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 immediately contact a health centre.

Related articles (in Finnish):

• FAQs about unpasturised milk (Evira)
• EHEC cases in Southwest Finland
• Wash your hands!