Latvian health officials have identified two distinct sources causing the current E. coli outbreak affecting multiple educational institutions across the country, according to Jurijs Perevoščikovs, Director of the Department of Risk Analysis and Prevention at the Disease Prevention and Control Centre (SPKC), according to an article on Latvian Public Media.
In a statement to Latvian Radio on April 8, Perevoščikovs explained that the original infection likely came from an animal that contaminated a specific food product. The exact product and transmission route remain unclear, as the bacterium could have transferred to meat, fruits, or vegetables.
The investigation has ruled out factors such as children consuming externally purchased food outside the school system. Instead, food preparation workers at affected institutions have also become infected, suggesting they were not the original source but became contaminated while handling products.
“We need to narrow down the number of suppliers to those that combine specific cases,” Perevoščikovs stated, indicating that investigators are focusing on common suppliers between affected institutions.
According to Māris Balodis, Director General of the Food and Veterinary Service (FVS), all 33 educational institutions linked to the outbreak have been inspected, with some facilities receiving multiple visits. The investigation has also included several production companies and wholesale outlets, prompted by consumer reports about strawberries that were ultimately not confirmed as the source.
During these inspections, authorities collected over 200 food samples and 250 surface swabs. Balodis reported that the situation has become clearer, with officials now identifying “two clusters with a specific number of sites” rather than a single outbreak affecting all locations.
Balodis noted that many test results have returned negative, possibly because contamination may have been temporary, with affected products no longer in circulation. “This epidemiological information is therefore very important, because it is not always possible to find a particular bacteria in a particular product, because time has passed,” he explained.
The Children’s Clinical University Hospital reported that of 30 children treated for E. coli infections, 17 have been discharged. Thirteen children remain hospitalized, including five in intensive care, down from six the previous day. The remaining patients are distributed across infectious disease wards and specialized pediatric units, with all patients previously in intensive care now transferred to regular care.
Commenting on this article, the nation’s leading E. coli lawyer said, “E. coli has the potential to be dangerous for certain populations, especially children. Although rare, an E. coli infection can develop into hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a potentially serious condition that shuts down the kidneys and other organs.”
