E. coli outbreak may be traced to Egypt seeds

ROME — European food and disease prevention authorities are investigating whether the outbreak of E. coli outbreak in Germany and France may be traced back to fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt either in 2009 or last year.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Food Safety Authority said in a joint report Wednesday that “there is still much uncertainty about whether this is truly the common cause of all the infections.”

The death toll in Europe's E. coli outbreak has risen by three to at least 47, according to German authorities. Germany has reported 46 deaths. One person has died in Sweden.

The World Health Organization said it considers an outbreak in France separate.

The report said further investigation was necessary.