Cucumber E coli outbreak hits Britain

AN E COLI outbreak believed to be caused by contaminated cucumbers has spread to Britain, with three cases confirmed in German nationals.

The outbreak has killed at least two people and left hundreds ill. The Scottish Government is monitoring the situation after three cases of the infection were reported in England.

A Scottish Government spokesperson last night said: "The Food Standards Agency is monitoring this issue and is liaising closely with the European Commission. There is currently no evidence that any affected organic cucumbers from the sources identified have been distributed to the UK."

Authorities in Germany have advised people not to eat cucumbers and to avoid other raw vegetables until they have concluded investigations into the cause of the outbreak. People in Sweden and Denmark have also been hit by the bug.

The strain, hemolytic-uremic syndrome, affects the blood and kidneys. In severe cases, it can hit the central nervous system.

The Health Protection Agency said its German counterparts had identified organic cucumbers from Almeria and Malaga as one source of the outbreak.

But further investigations are studying a batch from the Netherlands as a potential third source. There is no evidence the outbreak has affected any produce imported into the UK.

However, it warned anybody returning from Germany with illness should seek medical attention.