E.coli outbreak 'spiked over past 24 hours'

The number of people reported sick in Germany from a foodborne bacterial outbreak that has already killed 16 spiked over the last 24 hours, with nearly 100 more people suffering from severe and potentially fatal symptoms, the national disease control centre said today.

Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner said scientists were working non-stop to find the source of the unusual strain of the E.coli bacteria that is believed to have been spread in Europe on tainted vegetables – and where in the long journey from farm to grocery store the contamination occurred.