Germany unsure over source of E coli outbreak

THE German authorities have admitted they are not sure of the source of one of the biggest outbreaks of deadly E coli contamination ever that has already claimed 16 lives and infected more than 1,000 people.

Experts are mystified by the bacteria that appears to be related to plague bacteria and can develop to attack the kidneys, blood and brain, leading to death in a high proportion of cases.

Early claims that the source was cucumbers from southern Spain have all but destroyed the country’s export market costing farmers more than €200m a week as several countries have banned imports.