Five Icelanders – among them a year old child – have tested postive for the E. coli bacteria.
While four of the infected caught the bacteria in the capital area, according to RÚV, and the other in the south of Iceland, it is not yet known from where and how the bacteria arrived in the country. For the moment, none of the infected show serious symptoms of the infection. Three have already been hospitalized.
Food poisoning from E. coli is usually caused by eating unwashed vegetables or undercooked meat. Symptoms include diarrhea, often bloody, with vomiting, high fever and severe headaches. E. coli is potentially fatal if not caught in time, but is usually not life threatening to any but small children.