Giardia & Cryptosporidium Found In Alamosa's Water
KOAA-TV, the NBC affiliate in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, tonight (4/9/08) is reporting that parasites have been found in Alamosa's water. KOAA reports that:
Residents of Alamosa hoped that this was the day they'd get the all-clear on their municipal water supply. No such luck. New problems have been found.
The Colorado Department of Health informed the city that a water sample taken before the system was flushed contained two different parasites -- Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Both can cause diarrhea. The water tests were performed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Investigators from the CDC were in Alamosa to investigate reports that several hundred people contracted salmonella The salmonella was traced to the municipal water supply, but officials were unsuccessful in tracing how the bacteria got into the water. The contaminated water was identified three weeks ago today, when residents were told to completely stop using the water.
Alamosa remains on a "boiled water" order. The number of people who've gotten sick has reached 389 with 107 culture confirmed cases of salmonella. Sixteen people required hospitalization, but none died and all have been released. For the KOAA story, go here.
