An unknown strain of E. coli is reportedly tainted drinking water to 200 homes in California, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported. Officials declared the water safe for residents to drink as of yesterday.
Over the weekend, officials sterilized the pipes known to contain the E. coli Bacteria; prior, the 200 households were advised to boil their tap water, said La Verne Public Works Superintendent, Jeannette Vagnozzi, wrote the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. To date, there have been no reported cases of illness connected to the contamination; however, it is important to note that the Symptoms of E. coli poisoning can take time to manifest.
While residents were awaiting sterilization of water pipes, each home received three cases of bottled water from city officials, noted the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
Officials at the water division said that the source of contamination remains unknown; however, noted the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, feces “animal or human” is the most prevalent source of E. coli contamination. “We’re not sure exactly what happened. We are in the process of an investigation into how our samples came up positive,” Vagnozzi said, quoted the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
The contaminated water is locally supplied or purchased from the Three Valleys Municipal Water District, according to Vagnozzi. Meanwhile, officials at the Water District claimed no knowledge about the contamination. “I know everything coming out of our plant is tested and treated,” said Kirk Howie, assistant general manager for the Three Valleys Municipal Water District. “It makes me wonder if it is their locally supplied water,” he added, quoted the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
Vagnozzi said that this type of contamination can take place when a pipe breaks, there is a problem in treatment, or from rain water run-off, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune explained. The bacterium was detected last Thursday, according to Vagnozzi. Follow-up test results confirmed the presence of E. coli.
E. coli Poisoning typically results in Food Poisoning Symptoms such as nausea; however, some E. coli bacteria is a potentially deadly pathogen and those E. coli Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, Dehydration, Abdominal Cramps, and Vomiting. In the most severe cases, the Symptoms of E. coli poisoning can include kidney failure. The very young, seniors, and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to Foodborne Illness.
E. coli Infection can lead to other adverse health effects, some long-term and serious, such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), which encompasses a group of disorders, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, which cause the intestines to become inflamed. IBD can cause Abdominal Cramps and pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and bleeding from the intestines. Victims of E. coli infection are also at risk of developing a form of reactive arthritis called Reiter’s Syndrome, which typically affects large weight-bearing joints such as the knees and the lower back.
Victims of E. coli Food Poisoning sometimes require kidney transplants and may have scarred intestines that cause lasting digestive difficulty. Even E. coli patients who supposedly recovered can experience long-term health problems later on. For instance, it is estimated that 10 percent of E. coli foodborne illness sufferers develop a life-threatening complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, in which their kidneys and other organs fail.
