Europe's E. Coli Death Toll Increases to 44

An employee examines a stool sample for EHEC bacteria (bacterium Escherichia coli) strains in the microbiological laboratory of the 'Universitaetsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf ' (University Cllinic Eppendorf- UKE) in the northern German town of Hamburg, June 2, 2011. (Reuters)

Germany has reported another death in Europe's E. coli outbreak — bringing the total to 44.

The national disease control center said Friday that 43 deaths have now been reported in Germany, the outbreak's epicenter. One person has died in Sweden.

Although the death toll is still rising, the number of new infections has declined significantly over the past two weeks.

The Robert Koch Institute, the disease control center, says 3,717 people have been reported sick in Germany, including 827 suffering from a complication that can lead to kidney failure. Another 114 cases have been reported in other countries.

The source of the bacteria has been traced to a sprout farm in northern Germany. Officials still don't know how the sprouts were contaminated.