Drinking water likely cause of Camp Yamhill disease source

Health officials have identified water contamination as the likely source of the E. coli outbreak that sickened more than 50 people at a Christian camp in Oregon last week.
The investigation, which began last week, involved DHS and 6 county health departments. The Oregon Department of Human Services has confirmed cases of both E.coli O157 and Campylobacter, both of which cause diarrhea, were caused by the water. No food item was implicated.
Camp Yamhill’s water treatment system, which draws water from the North Yamhill River, may have been overwhelmed by surface water run-off caused by recent heavy rainfall, said Dr. Mel Kohn, state epidemiologist in the Oregon Department of Human Services.
Most of the kids who became sick from the outbreak have recovered, and the camp is planning to upgrade its drinking water treatment system.
For the time being, the camp has arranged to bring in drinking water from an approved outside source and will continue to do so until treatment improvements are identified and completed.