Towns in Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin are taking steps to prevent illness in residents using public water after positive tests for E. coli. Officials in Hollis, Oklahoma were distributing bottled water after positive tests in the public water system.
In Baytown, Texas, officials announced a boil order after positive E. coli tests.
And finally, residents in Janesville, Wisconsin were also under a boil order, again after positive tests for E. coli.
The term E.coli referst to family of baceria that includes the dangerous E. coli O157:H7 bacteria. A positive, general, test for E. coli does not necessarily indicate the presence of E. coli O157:H7. Likewise, it does not rule out its presence.