By AFP More by this AuthorBeijing,Hundreds of people in eastern China have been infected with bacteria which can cause dysentery after drinking contaminated water, state media said Monday, prompting the closure of a local water plant. Nearly 500 people in the rural town of Baoyi -- about 550 kilometres (342 miles) west of Shanghai -- have developed fever and diarrhoea since late last week. The town's water supply has been shut down and nearly 300 people have been hospitalised, county officials said. Fears over the safety of drinking water remain a problem for much of China -- including its wealthiest cities, where many residents rely on bottled or boiled water. China's Ministry of Water Resources had improved water supply services for 256 million rural residents across the country by the end of July, the official Xinhua news agency said Friday.

Source: Daily Nation August 24, 2020 11:06 UTC