Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - May 26, 2000, Winnipeg, Manitoba A4 local win Mph Frknk May 2000 water continued from Page a1 by mid afternoon officials announced the outbreak had claimed its fifth another elderly two More children one from Owen another from Walkerton were so sick they were airlifted to a Hospital in to join other youngsters in critical condition one boy clutched a Teddy Bear As he was wheeled into the Hospital emergency by Mcquigge said he began to distrust the Utility and ordered All residents to begin boiling their water after doctors told him about several cases of bloody a symptom of Coli when All the evidence we were get Ting was pointing to a contaminated water Supply despite being told the Public water system was Safe the pub Lic health unit told the people of walk Erton not to drink the he residents boiled with Why want this information brought to the Public right away an emotional Philip shouted at offi somebody is going to said Resi Dent Bob who was these people Are being paid they should be Scott lawyer for a group of says the class action suit alleges negligence on the towns part for not notifying residents about a danger that was apparently known for several he say the amount of damages being Mcquigge also said Utility officials had told him offhandedly that the towns chlorination system had been faulty for some experts say Coli bacteria is killed off by at least 700 people have been affected and Mcquigge has predicted that More will Likely die since the symptoms nausea and fever can take up to a week to about 50 cases were reported to the Hospital in Walkerton some showing similar symptoms but carrying a less dangerous form of the Bac its different from Coli in the sense that its not As said William the hospitals chief of at a news the Ontario provincial environment minister Dan Newman and Mcquigge will meet today to discuss the possibility of criminal the provinces environment ministry is and there was some suggestion yesterday that a provincial government policy downloading responsibility for regular Coli testing of municipal water May have been part of the Newman said he would keep an open mind in considering changes to How municipalities test their the Ontario clean water Agency has taken control of the Community Utility commission for at least six residents were left to drink bottled water and Many drove to nearby towns to Bathe since the towns water is still grossly almost two weeks after a severe storm caused massive flooding in the schools and Day cares remained closed for the while hospitals have been strained for neighbourhood Coffee shops and restaurants sat with regulars too afraid to drink the Coli normally live in the intestines of humans and other War blooded Ani such As most strains Are harmless but some can be it can be transmitted by eating undercooked meat from a contaminated or by drinking unpasteurized milk or Apple the bacteria produce in severe Lead to kidney Kevin photo Volunteer stacks bottled water at a depot in Walkerton Kevin photo James masters Owen sound Suk times Kieffer admission Mcquigge lost Confidence Coli found in animal intestines hundreds of people in southwestern Ontario have been infected with an Coli bacteria known As Coli some facts what is it Coli Are bacteria commonly found in the intestines of humans and there Are different kinds of some harmful to humans and some not How do infections happen Coli bacteria infect the intestines of when animals Are the bacteria contaminate the surface of the the bacteria Are further mixed into the meat during the grinding this is Why outbreaks Are sometimes referred to As hamburger How does it spread infections spread by Many food sources such As undercooked ground unpasteurized milk and Apple roast Sandwich raw cheese and contaminated once someone has eaten contaminated the infection can be passed by Handt Mouth con How does it cause illness Coli produces a toxin called ver toxin that causes symptoms such As stomach com fever and diarrhoea that can become kidney failure is possible in severe How can infection be prevented Wash hands thoroughly and frequently with uncontaminated clean and sanitize counter Ops and utensils after Contact with raw Cook ground meat until its no longer drink Only pasteurized milk or dont handle food if suffering Diar Canadian press sons since 1909 All furniture All appliances ;