E. Coli Outbreak Leaves 5 People Dead in Canada

One of the worst E. coli outbreaks in North America killed its fifth victim here Thursday, as residents angrily questioned officials on how the bacterium entered their water supply.

Hundreds of people in this southern Ontario town have been sickened by the potentially deadly germ, which was first detected in municipal well water last week.

More than 50 people showed up for treatment or follow-up visits for E. coli infection Thursday, and six patients remained hospitalized here. Ten others, including three in critical condition, have been transferred to other hospitals, officials said.

Doctors from throughout the region were converging on South Bruce-Grey Health Center to help the beleaguered staff deal with the most severe E. coil outbreak on record in Canada.

Local health official Dr. Murray McQuigge said the crisis evoked memories of an E. coli poisoning from tainted hamburger meat at Jack in the Box fast-food restaurants in Washington state. The 1993 outbreak killed four people and sickened hundreds.

Residents of Walkerton, a town of 5,000 in farm country 90 miles west of Toronto, said they were coping with the absence of clean tap water.

“It’s like camping indoors,” said Jessica Spitzig, 17, as she tended the cash register at the family gas station on the edge of town.

Alex Cooper, a teacher at one of the five local schools closed since Wednesday because of the contamination, said his family abstained from showering this week and used boiled or bottled water for brushing their teeth and washing.

He and others complained that they first learned of the problem from friends and neighbors when people began getting sick last week.

“It’s a small town, and that kind of networking exists here,” Cooper said.

Another school worker, John Louther, said his family began boiling its water after his 6-year-old son became sick May 16, days before the contamination became known publicly.

“We had already heard some mumbling about the water,” he said.

The first four deaths were reported Wednesday: a baby and three elderly adults. Another elderly victim died Thursday, McQuigge said.

Officials still aren’t sure what caused the contamination. They said recent flooding after heavy rains may have contaminated the town’s water supply.