Epidemic costs reaching $3 million

The institutional cost of last year's Havelock North campylobactor epidemic so far exceeds $2.7 million, with the release of Hawke's Bay District Health Board figures yesterday.

To the end of December its cost was $766,000, including the $330,00 cost from staff sickness.

Legal expenses related to the Government Inquiry into the epidemic are so far $99,000.

Costs also related to clinical supplies, hydration management, surveys, administration costs, lab and legal expenses.

The epidemic cost, together with ongoing junior doctor strikes, is putting the Health Board under pressure to meet its forecast $5million surplus by the end of the June.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council's epidemic cost totals more than $1 million - $445,000 for investigating a resource consent breach and $637,310 for assisting the Government Inquiry.

Hastings District Council costs associated with the regional council prosecution action totalled $71,000 in legal costs and $200,000 in technical investigation costs.

It said costs associated with identifying the cause of the contamination and assisting the Government inquiry were $133,000 for legal costs and $451,000 for a technical investigation.

The Hastings water supply remains chlorinated as a safety measure following the August epidemic, which left more than 5000 people sick with campylobactor in Havelock North drinking water.