German authorities were still hunting on Monday for the origin of the deadly Escherichia coli outbreak after early tests failed to confirm that a bean-sprout farm in northern Germany was the source.
周一，德国有关部门继续追踪此次爆发的致命性大肠杆菌疫情的源头。此前的测试无法确定德国北部一个种植豆芽的农场就是疫情爆发的源头。
The German state of Lower Saxony said it will test further samples of bean sprouts, which German officials thought might be behind the deadly outbreak, to see if they are infected with the strain.
德国下萨克森州说，该州将进一步检测豆芽样本以确定这些豆芽是否感染了菌株。德国官员此前怀疑这些豆芽是此次爆发的致命性疫情的源头。
So far, 23 of the 40 samples have come up negative.
截至目前，40个样本中有23个的检测结果为阴性。
If further testing shows the sprouts weren't the source, German authorities will again be at square one in a search for the cause of the E. coli outbreak, which has killed 22 people and infected at least 2,200 since May.
如果进一步的检测表明这些豆芽不是源头，德国有关部门又得重新开始找寻疫情的源头。自5月份以来此次爆发的大肠杆菌疫情已经造成22人死亡，至少2,200人受到感染。
Among the ill are six Americans with suspected E. coli infection, including two members of the U.S. military believed to be in Germany, said U.S. government officials. All four of the other Americans were in northern Germany in May.
美国政府官员说，有六个美国人疑似感染了大肠杆菌，其中两人据信是驻扎在德国的美国军人。其他四名美国人今年5月时都在德国北部。
The delay in finding the source has drawn criticism from politicians, farmers and the public.
政界人士、农民和公众对有关部门迟迟未能找到疫情源头提出了批评。
Farmers are incurring millions of euros in losses as mountains of raw vegetables and fruits sit uneaten. Russia banned all fresh-produce imports from the European Union last week.
农民正在遭受成百上千万欧元的损失，未被食用的蔬菜和水果堆积成山。上周俄罗斯已经禁止从欧盟进口所有新鲜农产品。
European ministers will meet in Luxembourg Tuesday to discuss compensation for farmers.
欧洲各国部长周二将在卢森堡举行会议，讨论对农民的补偿问题。
In a news conference Monday, Germany's agricultural ministry defended the government against criticism of its ability to find and control the outbreak. 'I'm stating clearly that for the federal government, the fight against E. coli is the highest priority,' said Ilse Aigner, the agricultural minister.
在周一的新闻发布会上，针对外界质疑政府是否有能力找出疫情源头并控制住疫情的指责，德国农业部为政府作了辩护。农业部长艾格纳（Ilse Aigner）说，我代表联邦政府明确表示，这场对付大肠杆菌的战斗是政府的当务之急。