These pathogenic E. coli types are called STEC. The bacteria are mainly transmitted via contaminated food. Although STEC are sensitive to heat, they can easily survive in foods such as raw minced beef, sausage, salami and raw milk, as well as plant-based foods such as industrially produced sprouts. And just 50-100 STEC germs can be enough to trigger the disease in healthy people.
STEC can also be transmitted from animals to humans in petting zoos if hands are not washed thoroughly with soap afterwards. Young children in particular can develop a characteristic secondary disease, haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), which can lead to a lack of urine production, kidney failure, skin haemorrhages and neurological changes.
