As of October 2025, the German Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and public health officials have confirmed an E. coli O45:H2 outbreak that has sickened hundreds of people. The outbreak originated in the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania region in August and later spread to Nordrhein-Westfalen.
Key details of the outbreak:
• Case numbers: As of early October, there were 255 total cases linked to the outbreak, including 137 confirmed infections. A BioExpert news report on October 25 updated the total to 351 illnesses.
• Confirmed strain: The RKI’s National Reference Center identified the cause as E. coli O45:H2, a rare serotype in Germany. The strain possesses genes that produce Shiga toxin, making it particularly dangerous.
• Impact on children: Children are disproportionately affected. In mid-September, the median age of confirmed cases was 4 years old. Earlier reports in late August noted that 14 children aged 1 to 12 were among the initial cases.
• HUS cases: Many patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe complication that can lead to kidney failure and brain damage. In early October, 38 confirmed cases had progressed to HUS.
• Deaths: One probable death in a person over 90 has been reported, but it lacked laboratory confirmation. On October 25, a different source reported three deaths attributed to the outbreak.
• Source remains unknown: As of October 2025, the exact source of contamination has not been identified. Officials suspect a contaminated food product that is widely distributed.
• Investigation methods: The RKI is conducting case-control studies, surveying patients by phone, and analyzing shopping receipts to determine the source of the infection.