outbreak's

Tracing the outbreak's origins has also proved vexing, but a few clues led authorities to what they now consider a promising lead.

Bean Sprouts Are New E. Coli Suspect Laura Stevens 2011

The FAO's chief veterinary officer, Juan Lubroth, recently called the outbreak's magnitude "unlike anything we've seen for at least half a century."

North Korea Frets Over Spread of Livestock Disease Evan Ramstad 2011

"The search for the outbreak's cause is very difficult as several weeks have passed since its suspected start," the ministry said in a statement, cautioning that further testing of the sprouts and their seeds was necessary to achieve full certainty.

German officials: Sprouts not cause of E. coli outbreak 2011

Government health authorities, though, have chased other leads on the outbreak's origins without success.

Bean Sprouts Are New E. Coli Suspect Laura Stevens 2011

"The search for the outbreak's cause is very difficult as several weeks have passed since its suspected start," the ministry said in a statement, cautioning that further testing of the sprouts and their seeds was necessary to achieve full certainty.

German officials: Sprouts not cause of E. coli outbreak 2011

German officials identified sprouts from an organic farm in northern Germany as the outbreak's cause, though they don't know how the sprouts got infected.

E. coli outbreak caused by mix of 2 deadly strains 2011

But even as scientists still scramble to diagnose the origin, experts say this outbreak's legacy could be the huge furor over mistaken claims and compensation from the European Union.

Mistakes in Handling E.Coli Outbreak Cause Furor 2011

Dalli told the European Parliament that scientists are still trying to pinpoint the outbreak's source.

Mistakes in Handling E.Coli Outbreak Cause Furor 2011

German officials identified sprouts from an organic farm in northern Germany as the outbreak's cause, though they don't know how the sprouts got infected.

E. coli outbreak caused by mix of 2 deadly strains 2011

"The search for the outbreak's cause is very difficult as several weeks have passed since its suspected start," the ministry said in a statement, cautioning that further testing of the sprouts and their seeds was necessary to achieve full certainty.

German officials: Sprouts not cause of E. coli outbreak 2011