Calls for farm waste regulations come with sixth E. coli death

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Calls for farm waste regulations come with sixth E. coli death

 

From Canadian Press

May 30, 18:56 EDT

 

 

..... But if the Ontario government failed to tell Dr. Murray McQuigge,

Walkerton's medical officer of health, about the bad water, it also has not been

listening to his concerns about farm pollution, said Howard Hampton, leader of

the opposition New Democrats.

 

Hampton cited a letter sent six months ago by McQuigge - who first blew the

whistle on Walkerton's tainted water - that warned Ontario's drinking water

could be getting contaminated with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.

 

" The thought that there is antibiotic resistant bacteria that has shown up and

the government is doing nothing should send a chill down the spine of every

citizen of Ontario, " Hampton said.

 

In the letter to the region's council, McQuigge cited studies that show bacteria

that can't be treated by antibiotics had been found downstream from industrial

hog farms.

 

Livestock operations are coming under increasing scrutiny with the suspicion

that farm runoff laced with lethal E. coli bacteria found its way into

Walkerton's drinking water after a torrential downpour on May 12.

 

The infection that has stricken hundreds in Walkerton cannot be treated with

antibiotics.

 

Fran McQuail, a member of the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario in

Lucknow, Ont., said the E. coli that has caused havoc in Walkerton is found

primarily in beef animals fed antibiotics and high concentrations of grain

rations.

 

Although a farm with 2,500 animals which create tonnes of waste is located

within eight kilometres of Walkerton, the government says there is no proven

link between the E. coli contamination and farming.

 

" This particular strain of E. coli has evolved in response to these situations, "

she said.

 

Neither Environment Minister Dan Newman nor Agriculture Minister Ernie Hardeman

have suggested any action on dealing with farm runoff is imminent.

 

Newman also refused to say Tuesday whether environment officials acted on the

concerns McQuigge raised last fall.

 

Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty said those factors combined provide more reason

to justify a full-scale public inquiry ....

 

 

Full article:

http://www.thestar.com/editorial/updates/special2/200005310_DEAD30.html

 

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