Summary

Verocytotoxin-producing E.coli (VTEC/STEC) confirmed by ERL in 2013. There were 215 STEC confirmed in 2013 (192 E. coli O157:H7), compared to 142 STEC in 2012 (119 E. coli O157:H7). A significant increase in cases confirmed by ERL was observed during the months of March, April and May 2013 mainly in the Waikato and Auckland DHBs. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) results showed a variation in profile types i.e. there was no clear outbreak strain. There were four main clusters in common between the Auckland and Waikato cases. These PFGE patterns had also been observed in cases from outside these regions, and among bovine isolates and historical human isolates.