Budget cuts may have led to E coli outbreak

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 …