LONDON: Walkerton victims face new risk

26.oct.07
London Free Press
John Miner

Research on the E. coli O157:H7 victims of Walkerton's tainted water tragedy has found people sickened with E. coli face a later risk of high blood pressure, a major cause of heart attacks and strokes.
Dr. Bill Clark, leader of the Walkerton Health study that includes scientists and doctors from the Lawson Health Research Institute, London Health Sciences Centre, Schulich School of Medicine and physicians from McMaster University, was cited as saying the finding has implications for people beyond Walkerton.
Clark was further cited as saying the 1,600 people across Canada sickened each year by the O157:H7 E. coli strain that hit Walkerton need to be monitored for two to three years following the episode, adding, "We found a 30-per-cent increase in high blood pressure and kidney impairment of people after the E. coli."
Seven people died and 2,600 people were sickened when Walkerton's water system was contaminated in May 2000 with bacteria from nearby farm fields following heavy rains.