EU To Discuss Killer Bacteria

Posted June 7th, 2011 at 2:40 am (UTC-5)
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European Union agriculture ministers meet in Luxembourg Tuesday to talk about the deadly E. coli outbreak in Germany, and its economic impact.

The ministers will discuss aid for farmers who are not able to sell their vegetables due to growing consumer fears over the outbreak. Russia has banned all vegetables from the EU.

The cause of the E. coli outbreak in Germany remains a mystery after officials Monday ruled out organic sprouts as the culprit.

Officials had said on Sunday that sprouts from a farm in Lower Saxony state were the source of the bacteria that has killed at least 22 people and sickened more than 2,200 others.

But they backtracked Monday after the the state's agriculture ministry said most of the samples taken from the farm had tested negative. Officials have also ruled out lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers from Spain.

The E. coli outbreak is the deadliest in modern history. Nearly all the victims are German. Eleven other European nations and the United States also report E. coli cases and say most of the victims had visited northern Germany.

E. coli symptoms include stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever and vomiting.