Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) is a group of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains capable of producing Shiga toxins, with the potential to cause severe enteric and systemic disease in humans.
At the request of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Consumers, a rapid risk assessment has been prepared concerning the outbreak of E Coli in Germany.
Over 1–2 October 2008, food- and waterborne disease public health experts from across the European Union met at European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to discuss the needs for future surveillance of six priority diseases.