Gastro outbreak strikes NZ town
An outbreak of gastroenteritis has affected residents of a New Zealand town, Havelock North, with hundreds of locals reportedly suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea. Schools were closed in response to the severity of the outbreak – the blame for which has been laid at the feet of contaminated water – and local medical centres were at capacity. Local water had apparently been infected with Campylobacter, most likely as the result of animal faeces entering the water supply. Two elderly residents ended up in intensive care due to the outbreak, and Radio New Zealand reported that a local rest home resident had died – this is under investigation.
Tourists planning on heading to the area have been advised to practise caution, ensure that they maintain scrupulous hygiene and avoid drinking potentially unsafe water.
In further bad news for the town, the emergency water supplies that were sent by the local council were found to be infected with e coli.
After receiving criticism for its poor handling of the crisis, Hastings district council stationed nine water tankers around the town for residents, saying that the water was free – and safe to drink. However, on 18 August the council advised locals to dump any water collected from one particular tanker, as e coli had been detected in the water. The Red Cross and civil defence personnel have been going from door to door distributing bottled water, toilet paper and nappies to those living in Havelock North.