It’s been almost a week since the residents of Havelock North in Hawke’s Bay started to feel unwell. The local council has confirmed the supply of drinking water is contaminated, most likely with campylobacter. With schools closed and hundreds of people sick, the Hastings District Council is being forced into damage control with residents angry they weren’t informed sooner and local businesses reeling for the impact its having on their bottom line.
A major investigation has been launched into why a thousand people have been affected by contaminated water in Havelock North.
The Hawke's Bay District Health Board and the Hastings District Council have both labelled the gastro outbreak an unprecedented event in the country.
Eighty two people have gone to seetheir GP today with gastro, 87 elderly people are also struck down in aged care facilities, 60 people have been treated at the hospital's emergency department and 20 people have been admitted - two are still in intensive care.
Test results will also confirm tomorrow whether the death of another elderly patient at Hawke's Bay Hospital was linked to the contaminated water.
Many more people are expected to be suffering, who haven't seen a doctor.
