Parents of young children, the elderly and those with weak immune systems need to be especially mindful of the city's boil-water advisory because they are most vulnerable to illness related to E. coli., city officials said.
The city of Corpus Christi on Tuesday announced a strain of E. coli had been detected in local water samples.
E. coli is a bacteria often found in human and animal intestines. Some strains found in contaminated food or water can cause health problems such as severe diarrhea, headaches, vomiting and abdominal cramps. Symptoms usually occur three days after exposure but some people infected show no symptoms or suffer only mild diarrhea.
The symptoms generally disappear within five to 10 days, said Dr. Mike Dulaney, a local pediatrician.
Dulaney said his office, ABC Pediatrics, hadn't seen an increase in possible related illnesses Tuesday but does expect people to call with concerns.
Area hospitals also hadn't seen an increase in cases of diarrhea, hospital officials said.
But hospitals coped with Tuesday's advisory by shutting off fountains, ice machines and anything else that uses city water. Most have purchased ice and water from outside vendors.
Aislynn Campbell, spokeswoman for Driscoll Children's Hospital, said administrators do not yet know how much the water problem will cost the hospital.
Contact Venessa Santos-Garza at 886-3752.
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