Alamosa Salmonella Update – Water Cleared to Drink

390 salmonella cases later, Alamosa health officials have given the big thumbs up on drinking the water, after weeks of flushing the town’s water supply with chlorine to rid the water of the bacteria that has put many folks in the hospital. Over a hundred cases have been confirmed as stemming from the contaminated water, with 16 of those folks hospitalized.

Alamosa residents haven’t been able to use tap water since March 19. The chlorine began pumping through the pipes on March 25. In addition to salmonella, lab tests also confirmed giardia and cryptosporidium in the water supply. Although the exact cause of the contamination hasn’t been pinpointed, state inspections uncovered problems with the town’s water tanks.

Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever and stomach pain. Although healthy folks generally recover without hospitalization, those with impaired immune systems, children and the elderly, often do become very sick.