More deadly than previous outbreaks, doctors sayThe death of an
Arizona patient could be linked to the deadly German
E. coli epidemic that caused 29 deaths and sickened thousands, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Thursday. The outbreak has alarmed doctors, who have never seen such an aggressive intestinal bacteria before.
U.S. health officials say the epidemic was more deadly than previous outbreaks because it combined dangerous characteristics of two different strains of the bacteria. The unusual combination of traits makes it more likely for infected people to develop a potentially fatal kidney complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, researchers said.
There are already five confirmed cases in the U.S., but the Arizona man would be the first death directly linked to the outbreak in
Europe.
It has been confirmed that the man had recently visited
Germany, according to a statement by the CDC.
His death is currently under investigation but health officials say he did have hemolytic uremic syndrome (kidney failure) similar to the hundreds of afflicted people in Europe.
The massive outbreak has sickened 3,601 people, including 815 with HUS, and killed 39, according to the Robert Koch Institute.
Comment: It's not just potatoes that are the culprit, but eating a diet high in carbohydrates. For more information on the link between carbohydrates and obesity read the review of Gary Taubes book Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It.