An eighth person has died of complications stemming from the O-157 strain of E. coli bacteria at a private hospital and adjacent nursing home in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture.
A 58-year-old woman died of enterohemorrhagic infection Sunday morning, following the deaths of seven other people, most of whom were elderly patients, local public health center officials said later in the day.
The eighth victim began complaining of symptoms, including bloody stool, on Aug. 4 at Hotokukai Utsunomiya Hospital. She was transferred to another hospital on Aug. 8 and died there on Sunday, according to the officials.
The outbreak has so far affected 139 people, including the eight who died, the officials said, adding that seven are in serious condition.
The seven earlier fatalities include an 81-year-old woman who died Monday at Hotokukai hospital and a 98-year-old woman from the Yonan nursing home who died Aug. 5.On Aug. 9, a 91-year-old woman, a 76-year-old woman and a 73-year-old man died at the Utsunomiya nursing home or hospital.
The Utsunomiya health center said it detected on July 29 the virulent strain of the E. coli bacteria on one of the lunch dishes served at the nursing home.
The dish, however, had not been served at the hospital, according to the health center.
Center officials said they will continue to investigate how the bacteria could have entered the hospital. The bacteria lives in the large intestine of humans and other warmblooded animals and can be spread through poor hygiene.
Five more complain
KAGOSHIMA (Kyodo) Five patients at Kagoshima University Hospital in the city of Kagoshima have been complaining of symptoms of the O-157 strain of E. coli bacteria infection, hospital officials said Sunday.
The hospital has begun investigating possible infection routes, they said.