Overview

• State health authorities reported 16 new infections on Tuesday, lifting the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern total to 78 and the nationwide cluster count to 89.
• Of the cases in the state, 21 have been laboratory-linked to the identified outbreak strain while 57 remain classified as suspected.
• Severe courses with hemolytic-uremic syndrome rose to 15 patients, with many infections affecting children and some requiring intensive care.
• Investigators continue genome sequencing, targeted food testing and detailed patient interviews, yet neither a source nor an exact starting location has been identified.
• Officials caution that locating testable foods becomes more difficult as time passes, noting the 2011 EHEC source took more than eight weeks to pinpoint.