ALCOAST 285/11 COMDTNOTE 6010 SUBJ: FORCE HEALTH PROTECTION GUIDANCE - E.COLI OUTBREAK IN EUROPE 1.

SINCE EARLY MAY 2011, AN INCREASED INCIDENCE OF HEMOLYTIC UREMIC SYNDROME (HUS) AND BLOODY DIARRHEA RELATED TO E. COLI INFECTIONS HAVE BEEN OBSERVED IN PEOPLE IN NORTHERN GERMANY OR PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECENTLY TRAVELED TO THIS AREA. AT THIS TIME, GERMAN HEALTH AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING THE OUTBREAK BUT HAVE NOT CONFIRMED A SOURCE. THEY SUSPECT THAT THE SOURCE IS CONTAMINATED FOOD, POSSIBLY RAW VEGETABLES. 2. GERMAN PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITIES ADVISE AGAINST EATING RAW SPROUTS, TOMATOES, FRESH CUCUMBERS, AND LETTUCE FROM SOURCES IN NORTHERN GERMANY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. TRAVELERS SHOULD ALSO FOLLOW REGULAR FOOD SAFETY MEASURES WHEN HANDLING FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. 3. THE DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY (DLA) TROOP SUPPORT EUROPE AND AFRICA HAVE SUSPENDED DELIVERY OF RAW TOMATOES, CUCUMBERS AND LETTUCE THROUGHOUT EUROPE UNTIL ALL ISSUES CONCERNING THIS SIGNIFICANT HEALTH PROBLEM HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND ADDRESSED. COAST GUARD CUTTERS MAY PROCURE THESE ITEMS WHEN IN CONUS, BUT THEY MAY NOT PROCURE THEM IN EUROPE. ADDITIONALLY, SHIPMENT TO CUTTERS IN EUROPE IS NOT AUTHORIZED. 4. IF YOU HAVE TRAVELED TO GERMANY AND HAVE BLOODY DIARRHEA AND SEVERE STOMACH CRAMPS OR SYMPTOMS OF HUS (DECREASED URINATION AND FEELING VERY TIRED), PLEASE CONTACT YOUR COGNIZANT MEDICAL REPRESENTATIVE. 5. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS OUTBREAK, GO TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION WEBSITE AT: HTTP://WWWNC.CDC.GOV/TRAVEL/NOTICES/OUTBREAK-NOTICE/2011-GERMANY-EURO PE-E-COLI.HTM. 6. FOR OPERATIONAL MEDICINE QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO THIS ALCOAST CONTACT CAPT SALVON-HARMAN (HSWL OPMED), (757) 628-4331 OR JEFFERY.C.SALVON-HARMAN(AT)USCG.MIL. FOR FOOD SERVICE QUESTIONS CONTACT CWO3 MICHAEL CARPENTER, (202) 475-5149, OR MICHAEL.V.CARPENTER(AT)USCG.MIL. 7. RADM M. TEDESCO, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WORK-LIFE SENDS. 8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.