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14:59 GMT, Monday, 14 July 2008 15:59 UK

Rabbit contaminated water supply

Pitsford reservoir

A rabbit has been named as the cause of a sickness bug which was found in water supplies in Northamptonshire.

Customers in 100,000 homes were told by Anglian Water to boil tap water for up to 10 days after the Cryptosporidium outbreak on 25 June.

The firm said a rabbit gaining access to the treatment process led to the bug at Pitsford Treatment works.

"We have already taken steps to ensure this cannot happen again," Peter Simpson, of Anglian Water, said.

"We have concluded that this occurrence was due to a combination of unusual circumstances."

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said that six out of 15 confirmed Cryptosporidium cases in the last month had the same "genetic fingerprint" as the cases involved in the water supply incident.

An Anglian Water spokesman said investigations with the HPA would continue.

The firm said the treatment works have been free from the bug since 26 June.

After the outbreak 1,000 miles of pipes in the water network were flushed and supplies were declared safe on 4 July.



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Related to this story:
Q&A: Cryptosporidium (30 Nov 05 |  Wales )
Ban on drinking tap water lifted (04 Jul 08 |  Northamptonshire )
Work to clean contaminated water (28 Jun 08 |  Northamptonshire )
Source of water bug is discovered (27 Jun 08 |  Northamptonshire )
Ultra-violet to fight water bug (27 Jun 08 |  Northamptonshire )
Scientists test for sickness bug (25 Jun 08 |  Northamptonshire )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Anglian Water
Northamptonshire County Council
Cryptosporidium
Health protection Agency
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