Health chiefs are investigating the link between a salmonella outbreak, after which two residents at a care home died, and eggs imported from Spain.
The Foods Standards Agency (FSA) is looking into the outbreak, which happened at the Piers View Care Home on Millum Terrace, Roker.
Today the agency said the investigation was still going on, but the cases could be linked to eggs imported from Spa
in.
Myra Robinson, 72, and Sam Kiu Chan Shek, 86, died in Sunderland Royal Hospital after the outbreak.
An inquest has been opened into both women's deaths to try to establish a specific cause.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said at the time of the deaths, in October, that it was a "particularly serious outbreak" of the killer bacteria, but agreed later that month that the infection had stopped spreading and there was no ongoing risk to residents or staff.
The agency said it would continue to work with Sunderland City Council's environmental health team to explore the cause of the infection, but added that it was unlikely to identify a cause.
Family and friends of the two women hope the investigation by the FSA may shed some light on the loss of their loved ones.
The fresh probe comes as both the FSA and HPA announced a nationwide investigation into an increase in the number of cases of a certain type of salmonella.
The HPA noted the increase in cases of Salmonella Enteritidis phage type (PT) 14b, since mid-August as part of its monitoring of infectious diseases.
A total of 443 cases of S Enteritidis (PT) 14b have been reported to the HPA this year, compared with 137 cases in 2008.
Fourteen clusters of cases in England and Wales are being investigated to determine if there is a common source of infection – eggs imported from Spain.
Salmonella bacteria live in the gut of many farm animals and can affect meat, eggs, poultry, and milk. Other foods can become contaminated through contact with manure in the soil or sewage in the water, or if raw and cooked foods are stored together.
