Via BBC News, a good summary of a confusing day: Cucumbers exonerated, but still avoided, and the search for the source of EHEC goes on. E. coli cucumber scare: Spain angry at German claims. Excerpt:
Authorities in Hamburg said four suspect cucumbers found there last week - including three imported from Spain - were carrying EHEC, but not the same kind found in patients.
"As before the source remains unidentified," Hamburg state health minister Cornelia Pruefer-Storcks said.
"Our hope of discovering the source of the cases of severe complications with HUS unfortunately has not been fulfilled by these first results."
She also defended the decision to link the outbreak to Spanish cucumbers last week.
"It would have been irresponsible with this number of ill people to keep quiet about a well-grounded suspicion," she said. "Protecting people's lives is more important than economic interests."
Earlier, a senior German scientist warned that the outbreak could worsen.
"We hope the number of cases will go down but we fear it will worsen," said Oliver Grieve, of the University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, where many victims are being treated.
German authorities have warned people to avoid eating raw cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce.
In Sweden, authorities said there were 39 suspected E. coli infections, including 15 with HUS.
On Tuesday, Swedish authorities said a woman in her 50s had died in hospital, after being admitted on Sunday following a trip to Germany.
Cases have also been reported in Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK.
Several countries have taken steps to curtail the outbreak, such as banning cucumber imports and removing the vegetables from sale.
