Environmental prevention of human disease from verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli

Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) is an important cause of mortality and renal failure worldwide. For those patients who need medical attention, no treatment aside from supportive care has proven effective for this disease. This has prompted a broader look at environmental prevention, with a particular emphasis on the transmission of bacteria from animal carriers to human beings. Here, we review animal- and meat-handling strategies to reduce the burden of VTEC human disease.