The deadly E.coli outbreak appears to be on the decline, Germany's health minister said today.

Daniel Bahr said that, while he could not give an all-clear over the bacterial infection, a fall in the number of new cases gives reason for hope.

Mr Bahr was talking on ARD Television before a crisis meeting with EU health chief John Dalli and other health officials in Berlin today on the outbreak which has killed 24 people and infected 2,325 in Germany, and more than 100 in other European countries and the United States.

He reiterated that the source of the infection may never been found.

The cause of the contamination crisis is still unclear, but health officials have warned against eating cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce and bean sprouts.