11 Feb 2010

Health experts probe E. coli outbreak

Residents of Bowen in north Queensland have been told to boil their tap water after bacteria was found in the local supply.

Routine monitoring of the water supply to Bowen has found unusually high levels of E. coli and there are concerns other harmful bacteria may be present.

Queensland Health is working with the Whitsunday Regional Council to determine the cause of the outbreak, with a water specialist due to arrive in Bowen today.

Mayor Mike Brunker says it will be some time before the water is clean enough to drink.

"We believe that it could be due to the fact that we have had a lot of high rainfall in Bowen in the last fortnight," he said.

Read More