Italian authorities have issued a warning after a young girl developed a serious condition after suffering an E. coli infection.
The Ministry of Health (Ministero della Salute) published a notice to consumers following a case of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which has affected a child in Trentino. HUS is a severe complication associated with E. coli infections that causes kidney failure.
Local health authorities have taken steps to try and verify the source of infection. They identified a probable link to the consumption of cheese produced in a malga, which is an alpine hut, in Coredo. In late July, local officials said the girl was hospitalized.
A related Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) report shows Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O26 was detected in the cheese.
To protect public health, it was advised that anyone who had purchased dairy products from the implicated site, before July 14, should not consume them. Officials also added that raw milk products should not be given to children under 5 years of age or the elderly.
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