Germany, Cucumber E. Coli | featured news

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is "reasonably confident" that U.S. consumers won't face the sort of E. coli outbreak plaguing Germany.

An expert at the World Health Organization says time is running out for German investigators to find the source of the world's deadliest E. coli outbreak, which has spread fear across Europe and cost farmers millions in exports.

German hospitals are struggling to cope with the flood of E.coli victims, health minister Daniel Bahr said on Sunday, as scientists remain puzzled by the deadly bug that has killed 19 and infected 1,700 people across Europe.

German health authorities struggled Wednesday to identify the source of an outbreak that has struck more than 1,500 people, killing at least 15.

Spain denies allegations its cucumbers caused the illness that has killed and sickened people in Germany and Sweden.

The Czech Republic and Austria take Spanish-grown cucumbers off the shelves after an E. coli contamination in Germany leaves 10 dead.