Multi-country E. coli Shigella Sonnei outbreak linked to travel to Cape Verde

Paris, Île-de-France, France

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) announced on their Communicable Disease Threats Report Week 45 a multi-country E. coli Shigella Sonnei outbreak linked to travel to Cape Verde. There are 55 confirmed cases in several countries: Netherlands (22), Denmark (4), France (3), Germany (2), Portugal (1) and the United Kingdom (23) with travel history to Cape Verde. The source is still unknown, the investigations are ongoing.

United Kingdom reports 48 confirmed S. sonnei cases with specimen collection dates between 22 November 2021 and 21 October 2022, with 42/48 (88%) of these cases with sample collection dates since 7 September 2022. In total, 23 cases report travel to Cape Verde and a further nine report travel to the African continent (country unspecified). Overall, 10/11 cases traveling to Cape Verde reported staying at the same hotel chain.

The Netherlands is reporting a cluster of 9 confirmed S. sonnei cases with a travel history to Cape Verde since August 2022. Altogether 22 S. sonnei cases have been reported, mostly after 19 September 2022. 12/13 cases stayed in different hotels from the same hotel chain on the same island of Cape Verde.

Denmark reported 2 cases that match the Dutch reference strain sequenced in a large EIEC/Shigella outbreak in December 2021-February 2022. Cases reported travel to Cape Verde. An additional 2 cases reported travel exposure to Cape Verde (Jan 2022, April 2022) but they were not sequenced.

France reported 9 cases that match the Dutch reference strain during the period February-September 2022; only 3 reported travel to Cape Verde (strain isolated in February) and another 1 mentioned a trip to Africa (strain isolated in September 2022).

Germany reported 2 cases that cluster with the Dutch reference strain and with travel history to Cape Verde. Disease onset September-October 2022. More detailed information on travel (island, hotel) was not available.

Portugal reported 1 case in October with clustering isolate to the Dutch reference strain and linked to recent travel to Cape Verde.

In case you are experiencing E. coli symptoms such as watery diarrhea (often bloody), vomiting; stomach cramps; and mild fever, it is important to report it. It can help to detect & resolve outbreaks early and prevent others from being harmed, and it enables better surveillance. If symptoms persist, seek medical care.

Source: ECDC www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/Communicable-disease-threats-report-Week-45-public.pdf