Germany still in dark over mystery killer bacteria in cucumbers

A mysterious killer bacteria claimed another life as Germany hunted for its source on Wednesday, while fears of tainted vegetables saw sales plummet throughout Europe and farmers threatened lawsuits.

An 84-year-old woman who died on Sunday brought the European toll from the outbreak to 17, all but one in Germany, and hundreds more have fallen sick. But there was still no clear word on its cause.

The outbreak started nearly a month ago, Germany's national disease centre said, although reports of infections only emerged in mid-May.

Spain threatened to file suit on behalf of its farmers against German authorities who had announced that the virulent bacteria was borne by Spanish imported cucumbers before later correcting their findings.

Deputy Prime Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said Madrid might sue the city of Hamburg, whose officials first issued the warning, for damages already estimated at more than 200 million euros ($290 million) per week.

E. coli bacteria in petri dishes (AFP photo)

Click here to read more. Article adapted from Channel News Asia.