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Anastasia Balezdrova

The deadly E.coli bacterium was found in the body of a tourist in the island part of Greece. According to the Hellenic Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention, it has infected a 53-year-old tourist from Germany, who was on vacation on the island of Paxi.

The woman who has already returned to her homeland got one of the symptoms - bloody diarrhea and was subjected to tests. Until now, the bacterium was detected in two samples, and the results of another test are being awaited. They argue from the Hellenic Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention that there is no cause for concern.

While Western Europe is still trying to find where the infection with the dangerous strain of the dangerous bacterium E.colli started the equally dangerous Listeria monocytogenes appeared in Greece.

The bacterium has been detected in a lettuce salad packed by the private company Barba Stathis at the expense of the large supermarket chain AB Vasilopoulos. According to the statement of the Hellenic Food Safety Authority (EFET), the problem was detected in one batch of the product containing a total of 90 packages.

GRReporter contacted the Vice-Chairman of EFET Timoleon Ralis, who said that the expiry date of the products of the batch was yesterday. "As a precaution, all the products thereof were removed from the shelves and we warned in our message the people who have bought this product not to consume it."

As was explained, the companies themselves make their own inspections. "The Listeria was found exactly in this way, but only in 1-2 samples from that batch. Then the company withdrew from the market all the packages that were not sold."
 
In a conversation with GRReporter sources from the company Barba Stathis confirmed that the bacterium has been detected in very small part pf the salads of the supermarket chain. "We immediately alerted the Hellenic Food Safety Authority and AB Vasilopoulos to withdraw the products and to inform consumers about the case." They said from the company that they check all raw materials, whether using them for their products or at the expense of other firms.

According to the information of the Hellenic Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention, the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is widespread in nature and can be found in soil, plants and mammalian gut system from where it is possible to be carried in food. Epidemics have been registered caused by contaminated foods such as milk, milk products (soft cheese), meat products and fresh vegetables.

The source of the bacterium could be a large number of wild and domestic animals, mostly sick sheep, pigs, cattle, cats, dogs, birds, rabbits and rodents. Listeria is excreted in milk, urine, faeces, and eggs and is very persistent in the external environment. Depending on the season it could be preserved in the soil from 33 days to five months, in open ponds – for one year, in the hay – 134 days, and in salted meats and cheese – 20 days. Vegetables could be contaminated by soil or by the use of manure.

The disease caused by the bacterium is called Listeriosis. Its incubation period lasts between 4 to 45 days, but most often it lasts from 4 to 7 days. What is typical for Listeriosis is that it affects and damages the central nervous system and many internal organs in which a number of granulomas called listeriomi form. The disease occurs in different forms and it could cause serious damage to vital organs.

Experts advise consumers all meat products to undergo complete thermal processing, to wash thoroughly and continuously fresh fruits and vegetables before eating them, to separate raw from cooked foods, to avoid consumption of unpasteurised milk and milk products, to wash their hands with warm water and soap and all the kitchenware used, to consume sensitive and ready-to-eat products in a short time and always to pay attention to the expiry date printed on the package.