Focus shifts to vegetable sprouts in E.coli outbreak

Deadly bacteria has killed more than 22 people in Europe

BERLIN - Consumers were awaiting the release of official test results on Monday that will most likely confirm that vegetable sprouts from an organic farm in northern Germany caused the terrifying E. coli outbreak in Europe that has killed 22 people and sickened more than 2,200.

Even if sprouts from the farm in the greater Uelzen region, between Hamburg and Hannover, are confirmed as the only source of the bacterial epidemic, more cases of the illness are likely for at least another week, authorities said. That's because the contaminated sprouts may have already been delivered to restaurants and grocery stores across the country and could infect consumers.