Three cases of E-Coli infections were confirmed at the National Hospital of Iceland in Reykjavík on Wednesday and two other patients may possibly be infected too. The origin of the bacteria is unclear and is being investigated.
“It happened very recently and we are trying to trace where the bacteria could come from,” Haraldur Briem, Chief Epidemiologist at the Directorate of Health, told Morgunbladid. “Usually there have to be a few cases before we can locate a common denominator.”
The E-Coli bacteria causes diarrhea, sometimes with bleedings, and can prove dangerous to people who are already ill, especially children, though no children have been infected so far. An infection is usually not deadly for healthy people.
Briem said his team is working as quickly as possible to find out how the three people were infected and to prevent further infections. “We just have to cross our fingers and see what happens in the next few days.”
