The European E. coli outbreak has killed 19 people, becoming one of the deadliest E. coli outbreaks in modern history. It has also sickened thousands of people, including four suspected cases in the United States. It is unknown where and how the disease is infecting people, but 17 people fell ill after eating in the German city of Lübeck in May. The four cases in the U.S. are all people who likely contracted the virus in Germany back in May, and carried it to the U.S. Two American military service members serving in Germany are also suspected cases. The FDA is monitoring lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers from Spain and Germany, though produce from these countries accounts for less than 0.2 percent of produce imported into the U.S. every year.
