What is E.coli?
Escherisha coli is a gram negative, rod shaped bacterium. It can survive with and without the presence of oxygen and is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm blooded animals.
Some strains of E.coli, you may have heard of E.coli 0157 are capable of causing severe illness, others do not.
In New Zealand, common waterborne pathogenic bacteria include:
- Legionella
- Salmonella - Causes diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps
- Shigella - Causes diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps
- Yersinia - Causes diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, can mimic appendicitis