Two E. coli infections confirmed in Poland

photo - EPA/Roland Weihrauch

One patient is a seven year old boy, whose condition is described as “serious but stable”.

The boy was infected by his father, who had been in Germany earlier and suffered a mild form of the infection.

Meanwhile, Poland’s health minister Ewa Kopacz told the TVN24 news station that altogether 18 people are under observation and the health authorities are waiting for test results.

Minister Kopacz said that such a highly toxic E. Coli strain has never been reported in Poland before. But she added that samples of vegetable and fruit taken by sanitary inspectors did not test positively for the virulent strain.

The outbreak in Germany has left 26 people dead and over 2,640 infected but German health authorities say the situation is gradually improving.

According to the chief sanitary inspector in Warsaw, some 5,400 checks have been conducted in supermarkets, at open air markets as well as restaurants and canteens in the past few days.

Inspectors have taken almost 500 samples of vegetables and fruit, including those imported from Germany and Spain. No health hazards have been detected so far.

Inspector Bilinski assured that sanitary inspectors are prepared to react speedily should the E.Coli infections start to spread in Poland. (kk/pg)