According to the latest report published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), cases on the shiga toxin-produced E. coli in Germany, the vehicle of the outbreak has not yet been identified and intensive investigations are ongoing. The results of these investigations will determine the assessment of this risk. Rapid identification of potential cases linked to this outbreak, within Germany or among persons who have travelled to Germany since the beginning of May, is essential to prevent the development of severe disease.

The ongoing investigations to identify the source of the E. Coli outbreak in Germany and the latest public health developments are subject to contacts between the Commission and the German authorities. This was also the focus of discussions held over the past few days between Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli with the German Federal Ministers responsible for Agriculture and Public Health who agreed on the importance of information sharing and on further intensifying both the efforts to identify the source of contamination and co-operation between all interested parties.

STEC is a group of pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains capable of producing Shiga toxins, with the potential to cause severe enteric and systemic disease in humans. The source of the outbreak is under investigation, but contaminated food seems the most likely vehicle of infection.

The Commission continues to stress that any measures on the ban of imports of EU vegetables remain disproportionate, such as the measures taken by the Russian authorities banning EU vegetables.