TOKYO - Bacteriologists scrambling to find the source of a killer germ have identified three strains of the 0-157 bacteria but have yet to pinpoint exact sources, health ministry officials said yesterday.
At least one of the strains identified by their DNA patterns has never before been detected in Japan and the ministry's bacteriologists were still at a loss to explain the massive outbreak, which has afflicted more than 9,000 people, killing seven.
The bacillus has been found in cow's liver and in a lettuce sandwich.
