Experts still baffled over cause of deadly E coli outbreak

SCIENTISTS are struggling to identify the cause of the mystery E coli outbreak which has already killed 18 people, infected 1,600 others and caused a war of words between Russia and the EU.

As the crisis continues to grip continental Europe, experts have admitted they do not know what has caused the deadly virus to spread throughout northern Germany, despite thousands already being infected.

After a major backtrack in recent days when Spanish authorities threatened Germany with legal action unless they confirmed the cause may not be Spanish cucumbers as first feared, Russia announced it was blocking the importation of all EU vegetables in order to restrict the crisis.

The move has been heavily criticised as excessive by EU states and is likely to cause economic problems for the continent.

However, with the cause of the crisis — which is focused specifically in northern Germany but has affected people who have travelled to the country — still unknown, scientists, EU officials and agriculture representatives are becoming increasingly concerned over its long-term effects.

Speaking last night, World Health Organisation spokesperson Aphaluck Bhatiasevi confirmed the expert authority believes the E coli strain causing the damage “has never been seen in an outbreak situation before”.

“This E coli is a new strain of bacteria that is highly infectious and toxic,” he said.

Despite the insistence from EU food authorities that the contaminated items are solely from northern Germany, the head of the leading consumer protection agency of Russia, Gennady Onishchenko, said the situation highlighted problems with European food.

“This shows that Europe’s lauded health legislation — one which Russia is being urged to adopt — does not work.

“I am far from believing that my colleagues in Germany and other European countries lack professional skills. But their hands are tied by an overly-politicised atmosphere,” he claimed.

Russia stands to benefit economically from any negative impact on rival EU foods.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland said there was no issue with any food products in Ireland.

A spokesperson added that no Irish person either here or abroad has been infected with E coli.

“Russia is doing this for Russian reasons,” a spokesperson said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has advised anyone travelling to Germany to avoid eating raw tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce while in the country.