The death of an Arizona man and five other U.S. cases of severe E. coli infection were caused by the deadly food poisoning outbreak that has ravaged Europe, federal health officials confirmed Friday.
The death of the man, who had recently visited Germany, is the first U.S. fatality connected to the outbreak that has killed 50 in Europe, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Officials didn't identify him, but said he was older than 65 and lived in Northern Arizona.
Overall, six cases of confirmed infection with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli 0104:H4 have been confirmed, the CDC said. They include five people who recently traveled to Germany. Another victim likely became ill from close contact with a traveler.