According to the Kitap Sun, sailors and some civilian mariners on the USS Emory S. Land were sickened by E. coli linked to drinking water. Over 34 sailors and 8 others complained of diarrhea and vomiting as a result of contaminated water. The ship was docked near Portland in Cascade General Shipyards. It appears that the E. coli contamination may have originated when the crews water supply was tainted with Willamette River water. The symptoms of E. coli food poisoning began last week. It appears that the E. coli entered the drinking water system when firefighting tanks were filled. E. coli contaminated water from the drinking tanks was removed and a chlorinated cleaning system has been employed to eliminate the E. coli bacteria. No hospitalizations associated with the E. coli illnesses have been reported.
E. coli foodborne illness can be spread by drinking E. coli contaminated water or eating contaminated food. Victims who contract E. coli food poisoning can suffer abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In cases linked to E. coli O157:H7, bloody diarrhea can lead to a life-threatening kidney complication known as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). Young children are highly susceptible to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. Normally, E. coli is killed by chlorination of water supplies.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2010
