ID :
187147
Wed, 06/08/2011 - 09:22
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http://m.oananews.org//node/187147
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MWA:Thailand's tap water is free from E. coli
BANGKOK, June 8 (TNA) - Amid global concerns over the spread of a new deadly strain of the E. coli bacteria in Europe currently, which has killed some 23 victims so far, the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) has confirmed that tap water in Thailand is free from the o104 E. coli bacterium.
Jongkolnee Asuwet, director of the MWA’s water quality section, insisted that the MWA has conducted regular tests of its tap water for the new E. coli strain every day to comply with the World Health Organization (WHO)'s guidance on quality of drinking water and the tests have never detected the deadly E. coli strain in tap water throughout the country so far.
The MWA senior official noted that chlorine used in the production of tap water in Thailand can kill E. coli; so, people can safely drink tap water supplied by the MWA.
The Thai Ministry of Public Health has, however, issued an official guidance against any outbreak of the deadly o104 E. Coli strain in the country, including advising the public to only consume cooked food, wash hands before meals and use serving spoons, ordering all hospitals to apply the same standard in screening patients with bloody diarrhea and records of travelling back from Europe within one week, conducting random checks on imported food products from Europe and asking travellers from Europe to fill out health information and to meet doctors if they fall ill.
According to Thai caretaker public health minister Jurin Laksanawisit , the E. Coli O104, which is contracted by eating contaminated food and water causing severe diarrhea both in children and adults, is the most severe among all five E. Coli strains, as it can dissolve red blood cell and cause kidney failure; so, patients can die of the renal failure. (TNA)
Jongkolnee Asuwet, director of the MWA’s water quality section, insisted that the MWA has conducted regular tests of its tap water for the new E. coli strain every day to comply with the World Health Organization (WHO)'s guidance on quality of drinking water and the tests have never detected the deadly E. coli strain in tap water throughout the country so far.
The MWA senior official noted that chlorine used in the production of tap water in Thailand can kill E. coli; so, people can safely drink tap water supplied by the MWA.
The Thai Ministry of Public Health has, however, issued an official guidance against any outbreak of the deadly o104 E. Coli strain in the country, including advising the public to only consume cooked food, wash hands before meals and use serving spoons, ordering all hospitals to apply the same standard in screening patients with bloody diarrhea and records of travelling back from Europe within one week, conducting random checks on imported food products from Europe and asking travellers from Europe to fill out health information and to meet doctors if they fall ill.
According to Thai caretaker public health minister Jurin Laksanawisit , the E. Coli O104, which is contracted by eating contaminated food and water causing severe diarrhea both in children and adults, is the most severe among all five E. Coli strains, as it can dissolve red blood cell and cause kidney failure; so, patients can die of the renal failure. (TNA)
