Severe Foodborne Infections Lead to Fatal Outcomes in Europe

A study by the Medical University Hannover found that hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in patients with liver cirrhosis triggers acute-on‑chronic liver failure in about half of cases, often requiring liver transplantation or resulting in death. The research examined 249 blood samples from hospitalized cirrhosis patients and highlighted that HEV infections are frequently under‑diagnosed despite causing serious complications.

In a separate case, a 13‑year‑old boy from Trentino, Italy, died after nine years in a coma caused by an enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) infection contracted from raw milk cheese. The infection led to hemolytic‑uremic syndrome and severe kidney and neurological damage. The tragedy has sparked debate in Italy over the safety of unpasteurised dairy products and calls for stricter warning labels.