Child dies as killer bacteria EHEC returns to Germany

A 6-year old girl has died in Germany of the killer E.coli bacteria EHEC, prompting fears Monday that the epidemic has returned, after claiming dozens of victims last year. Last year's bout was finally blamed on Fenugreek sprouts grown in Germany from Egyptian seeds - after causing a trade row with Spain, whose exports were initially thought to be the cause, dpa reported. Hamburg state health officials said they had seized food samples from the child's home, after she died at the weekend, and from stores where the family shopped and were testing them. They said the rest of the family remained healthy. Officials said EHEC was a constant threat, with 800 to 1,200 people being infected annually in Germany. Last year 53 died in Germany, as the sprouts sent the death rate spiking, but there had been a small number of deaths in other years, they said.