Farmers advised as 90,000 have to boil water

GALWAY County Council, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and Food, has issued protection of water advice to farmers, as part of their response to what environmental health officers say is Ireland’s worst outbreak of cryptosporidiosis.

The water borne parasitic infection causes unpleasant diarrhoea in healthy adults, but can be fatal for people susceptible to infections. Early this week, the number of people needing treatment had risen to 79.

About 90,000 people in Galway city, Tuam, Moycullen, Barna, Headford, Athenry and Oranmore have been advised to boil water for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth.