Health Law

Water outbreaks: Saratoga Springs, Utah; Alamosa, Colorado; and Jackson, Missouri

By Drew Falkenstein

Saratoga Springs, Utah campylobacter outbreak:

The City of Saratoga Springs, Utah is the site of campylobacter outbreak linked to drinking water.  The outbreak has caused at least 12 confirmed illnesses, but residents of the City believe that many more people have been infected in the outbreak.  According to the Deseret News, the City has issued a boil water order in an effort to limit the spread of illness. 

Officials say boiling the drinking water of all users of the culinary water system located north of 400 South in Saratoga Springs for at least one minute could help reduce the risk of picking up the contaminant believed to cause the stomach or intestinal illness. An alternative is to buy bottled water or use liquid household bleach that is free of additives and scents to disinfect water.

Officials are hopeful the order will be in effect for just 24 hours, but they warned residents Thursday that it could last up to 72 hours.

City Manager Ken Leetham said the bacteria causing the illness is campylobacter, which, if left untreated, can cause intestinal problems. It can be treated with antibiotics.

Alamosa, Colorado

A state report has indicated the city of Alamosa ignored a recommendation to have a deteriorating drinking water tank inspected years before the 2008 outbreak that sickened possibly thousands of residents of Alamosa, Colorado.  The report found animal waste likely contaminated an in-ground storage tank that had been identified as a problem in 1997. The 2008 outbreak included 442 reported cases of illness, but state health officials estimate as many as 1,300 of the towns 8,900 residents were sickened. One death was associated with the outbreak.

See Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment final report on Alamosa outbreak; executive summary; and appendix.

Jackson, Missouri

A Jackson-area fitness center has been linked to an E. coli outbreak. Since April 28, 14 people have reported E. coli-like symptoms. In a May 10 press release, Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services stated:

Officials with the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center tested water from a drinking fountain and a faucet within the facility and confirmed the presence of E. coli in both samples. The sports complex, which is served by a private well, shut off its water last Thursday at the urging of local health officials.

Since April 28, at least 14 people have reported becoming ill after drinking water at the facility. Testing confirmed that five of those people were suffering from exposure to E. coli and nine others are considered probable. Four people have been hospitalized.

Full post as published by Food Poison Blog on May 14, 2010 (boomark / email).