8 dead in Belgium from E. coli outbreak

By Melike Pala

BRUSSELS (AA) - Eight people died in Belgium following an outbreak of the STEC bacterium, local media reported Monday.

The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) is working to trace the source of the infections, which have been detected in at least eight care homes in Flanders and one in Wallonia, according to Belga news agency.

Seven of the victims were in Flanders and one in Wallonia, while additional cases have been confirmed in Brussels and Ottignies. A total of 63 residents remain ill, 48 in Flanders, 14 in Wallonia, and one in Brussels.

Most infections in Flanders were linked to the O157 strain, while tests are ongoing to determine whether cases in Wallonia and Brussels are connected to the same source. Authorities suspect that contaminated food may have circulated in several care homes weeks ago.

Local broadcaster RTL reported that all of the care homes involved used the same food supplier.

Although no new food-related cases have been reported, health officials warn of possible human-to-human transmission.

Investigators are collecting samples at affected facilities and tracing food supply chains, but the inquiry is complicated as the infections date back several weeks.

STEC, a variant of E. coli, can cause fever, headaches, and bloody diarrhea.