[3][4][5] A number of pathogenic isolates are termed ETEC, but the main hallmarks of this type of bacterium are expression of one or more enterotoxins and presence of fimbriae used for attachment to host intestinal cells.
Fever, nausea with or without vomiting, chills, loss of appetite, headache, muscle aches and bloating can also occur, but are less common.
[1][8] Prevention through vaccination is a critical part of the strategy to reduce the incidence and severity of diarrheal disease due to ETEC, particularly among children in low-resource settings.
Most vaccine development efforts are taking place in the public sector or as research programs within biotechnology companies.
Since the transmission of this bacterium is fecal contamination of food and water supplies, one way to prevent infection is by improving public and private health facilities.