- Case Counts: Public Health Ontario. Query: Case counts of reportable diseases by public health unit and year. Toronto, ON: Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion; extracted on January 16, 2025.
- Population estimates: Statistics Canada 2014-2022, IntelliHEALTH Ontario, Ministry of Health, extracted on April 23, 2024.
- Population projections: Statistics Canada, 2023, IntelliHEALTH Ontario, Ministry of Health, extracted on April 23, 2024.
Verotoxin-producing E. coli, including Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) is a form of the bacteria E. coli that causes gastrointestinal illness. It can be found in cattle, as well as some other animals. VTEC is spread to humans through eating or drinking contaminated food or water, or by contact with animals and their environments (e.g., farms or petting zoos). It can also spread from person to person.
Complications may include hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS is a serious disorder that usually occurs in children and involves the formation of small blood clots throughout the body that block the flow of blood to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys.
Local Information
2024 Statistics
Incidence rate is the number of new cases of disease divided by the number of persons at risk for the disease during a particular time period.
Cases:
1*
Incidence rate per 100,000 in 2024: 0.7
*Includes confirmed cases in 2024.
Incidence rate per 100,000 of Verotoxin Producing E. coli including HUS by year
More Information about E. coli and HUS
- Public Health Agency of Canada - E. coli: English and Français
- Merck Manual - HUS: English and Français
- Ministry of Health - Animal Health: Verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli
Report to the Health Unit by next business day by phone at 705-474-1400 or toll free at 1-800-563-2808, ext. 5229 if verotoxin-producing E. coli infection indicator conditions, including Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) is suspected or confirmed as per Ontario Regulation 135/18 and amendments under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O., c.H.7.
Exclude symptomatic food handlers, healthcare providers, and childcare staff and attendees until having 2 consecutive negative stool specimens or rectal swabs taken at least 24 hours apart and at least 48 hours after the completion of antibiotic and/or anti-diarrheal therapy medications, if these medications have been used.
Follow the direction of your healthcare provider, public health case manager, or occupational health at your workplace.
Contact our Communicable Disease Control (CDC) program at 705-474-1400 or toll free at 1-800-563-2808, ext. 5229, or by email to cdc@healthunit.ca for more information.
Last updated: February 2025, by CDC