New superbug found in milk

Friday June 3rd, 2011

Britain's rural communities may be at risk from a new strain of the superbug MRSA that is found in cow's milk, experts warned today.

The strain is substantially different to known strains of MRSA and gives misleading results in laboratory tests, according to a report in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

It has emerged in agricultural communities in the south-west, East Anglia and in the north-east, Cambridge University researchers say. It has also been found in Denmark.

The researchers say several of the existing tests for infection from staphylococcus aureus would suggest the new strain can be treated with the antibiotic meticillin - and this could lead to patients being treated with the wrong drugs.

The new strain is known as mecALGA251 MRSA.

The researchers led by Dr Mark Holmes, a veterinary medicine specialist, say the general public should not be at risk because milk should be purged of infection by pasteurisation.

They say: "Such evidence suggests that a bovine reservoir exists, from which mecALGA251 MRSA is transmitted to people.

"Pasteurisation of milk will prevent any risk of infection via the food chain but individuals in close contact with cattle could be at higher risk of carriage. Further research is needed to test this hypothesis."

Meanwhile UK officials said there was no sign of a deadly E.coli outbreak reaching the UK.

The infection, apparently spread by salad vegetables, has so far taken nine lives across Europe after breaking out in Germany.

The Health Protection Agency says that so far seven cases of infection have been detected in England - but all involve people who have travelled from Europe.

Following protests from the Spanish authorities, health officials say the source of the outbreak remains a mystery.

Lancet Infectious Diseases June 3 2011

Tags: Diet & Food | Europe | MRSA & Hygiene | UK News

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