About STEC
Escherichia coli are a group of bacteria that are found in the gut of nearly all people and animals. There are many different strains of E. coli. Some cause no illness at all. Others cause minor illness, and yet others cause serious illness. The Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection is referred to as STEC.
Disease type:
Gastrointestinal
Vaccination available under NIP:
No
Notifiable disease:
Yes
Case definitions
Prevention, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
For information about symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, see healthdirect's STEC page.
Surveillance and reporting
STEC is a nationally notifiable disease.
We monitor cases through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS).
For more on STEC in Australia, you can search Communicable Diseases Intelligence.
Related programs
OzFoodNet is a network of epidemiologists that monitors and responds to foodborne diseases in Australia, including STEC.
Date last updated: