FARMYARD MANURE

It would seem that the outbreak of E coli and subsequent HUS deaths is going to be traced to contaminated irrigation water. That is, contamination caused by farmyard manure or slurry produced on farms or else it is from inadequately treated wastewater from municipal treatment plants. And this outbreak is happening in Germany, not in Africa.

The number of deaths caused by the E coli infection in Germany has risen to 22 with over 2000 people ill. The latest theory as to the possible cause is bean sprouts and other sprout varieties from a farm in the Uelzen area of northern Germany. Whether this proves to be so or not is academic. What is of concern is that the possible farming methods used may have allowed this particular strain of E coli to contaminate the crops.