The authorities in Vaslui county in the Northern area of Romania have shut down the public water system in the village of Zorleni after finding a large quantity of the E.Coli bacteria.

The high bacteria levels follow flooding in parts of the village last week.

The 3,000 people served by the water supply system will revert back to drinking water from the village’s wells while authorities disinfect it.

E.Coli, also known as Escherichia coli is a bacterium, which can cause serious food poisoning.

Virulent strains of E. coli can cause gastroenteritis, urinary tract infections and neonatal meningitis. In rarer cases, virulent strains are also responsible for hemolytic-uremic syndrome, peritonitis, mastitis, septicemia.

In 2011, the EU was on alert after an E.Coli outbreak, originating from Germany, spread to other European countries.

Back then, specialists discovered the source of the bacteria had been fresh vegetables. In all, 3,950 people were affected and 53 died, 51 of which were in Germany. Romania was however not affected.

editor@romania-insider.com