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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/18/nz-town-gastro-outbreak-sent-e-coli-infected-water-council
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| NZ town hit by mass gastro outbreak is sent E coli-infected water by council | NZ town hit by mass gastro outbreak is sent E coli-infected water by council |
| (5 days later) | |
| The New Zealand town where thousands of people have been affected by gastro due to a contaminated water supply have been told to dump emergency supplies of free water supplied by the council because it has tested positive for E coli. | The New Zealand town where thousands of people have been affected by gastro due to a contaminated water supply have been told to dump emergency supplies of free water supplied by the council because it has tested positive for E coli. |
| Last week thousands of residents of the small North Island town of Havelock North fell seriously ill after the town’s water supply was contaminated with campylobacter – suspected to be the result of animal faeces in the water. | Last week thousands of residents of the small North Island town of Havelock North fell seriously ill after the town’s water supply was contaminated with campylobacter – suspected to be the result of animal faeces in the water. |
| Since the outbreak last Thursday 841 people went to local GPs with gastro symptoms and 91 to the emergency department at Hawke’s Bay district hospital. More than a dozen people remain in hospital due to the contaminated water, one in intensive care. | Since the outbreak last Thursday 841 people went to local GPs with gastro symptoms and 91 to the emergency department at Hawke’s Bay district hospital. More than a dozen people remain in hospital due to the contaminated water, one in intensive care. |
| The Red Cross and civil defence have been going door to door in Havelock North, delivering supplies of bottled water, toilet paper and nappies, particularly to elderly people living alone. | The Red Cross and civil defence have been going door to door in Havelock North, delivering supplies of bottled water, toilet paper and nappies, particularly to elderly people living alone. |
| After coping criticism from locals for its poor handling of the crisis the Hastings district council brought in nine water tankers and stationed them around the town for people to collect free water it said was safe to drink. | After coping criticism from locals for its poor handling of the crisis the Hastings district council brought in nine water tankers and stationed them around the town for people to collect free water it said was safe to drink. |
| However on Thursday the council told residents to dump any water collected from a tanker stationed at a local school, because an E coli indicator was found in the tanker’s water. | However on Thursday the council told residents to dump any water collected from a tanker stationed at a local school, because an E coli indicator was found in the tanker’s water. |
| “The news today has spread ripples of fear through our community,” said Te Mata primary school’s principal, Michael Bain, who said three of his four family members had been seriously ill. | “The news today has spread ripples of fear through our community,” said Te Mata primary school’s principal, Michael Bain, who said three of his four family members had been seriously ill. |
| I am going back to bottled water. | I am going back to bottled water. |
| “I am going back to bottled water, everyone is. The mix-ups and misinformation is really concerning. No one knows what to believe any more.” | “I am going back to bottled water, everyone is. The mix-ups and misinformation is really concerning. No one knows what to believe any more.” |
| On Monday, primary school students are scheduled to return to school and Bain said they would have two bottles of bottled water available for every child. | On Monday, primary school students are scheduled to return to school and Bain said they would have two bottles of bottled water available for every child. |
| Water New Zealand’s chief executive, John Pfahlert, has called for all towns to chlorinate their water supplies, because they were at risk of a similar contamination to Havelock North. | Water New Zealand’s chief executive, John Pfahlert, has called for all towns to chlorinate their water supplies, because they were at risk of a similar contamination to Havelock North. |
| The New Zealand government has announced it will hold an independent inquiry into the water contamination in Havelock North. | The New Zealand government has announced it will hold an independent inquiry into the water contamination in Havelock North. |