E.coli victims still on increase

Bean sprouts are tested for E.coli, as German officials said the deadly outbreak appears to be on the decline (AP)

June 08 2011 08:24 AM

More people are still falling ill through E.coli poisoning in Germany despite health officials saying there was hope the epidemic was abating.

Another person has died in Germany from the infection, raising the toll to 24 in Germany, plus one in Sweden.

The number of reported cases is up by more than 300 over the previous day to 2,648, including nearly 700 suffering from a serious complication that can cause kidney failure.

Even though the reported cases are going up, there is often a lag in the reporting time and German Health Minister Daniel Bahr said the number of new infections "are clearly going down."

Meanwhile the EU increased its offer of compensation to farmers for the outbreak to 210 million euros (£187 million).

EU Farm Commissioner Dacian Ciolos had initially proposed 150 million euros (£134 million) to the struggling farmers, who have tons of unwanted cucumbers and tomatoes rotting in fields and warehouses.

But big producers like Spain, Italy and France called for more aid and he was forced to increase the offer.

A final decision will be made next Tuesday by EU member states.