Budget cuts may have led to E coli outbreak

BMJ 2000; 320 doi: 10.1136/bmj.320.7250.1625 (Published 17 June 2000)
Cite this as: BMJ 2000;320:1625.1

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  1. David Spurgeon
  1. Quebec

    Eleven people in the Canadian town of Walkerton, Ontario, have died from municipal drinking water contaminated by the O157:H7 strain of Escherichia coli, while about 1000 of the 5000 inhabitants have become ill.

    Four different investigations—including a public inquiry announced by the provincial government—are under way to determine the cause of the pollution. It is believed that run-off containing animal wastes entered water conduits from nearby farms.

    Critics are blaming funding cutbacks …

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