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Arthur T Knackerbracket has processed the following story:
At least 25 people in two states were likely poisoned by toxic batches of the "Re2al ," including five children who suffered acute liver failure and one person who died.
The toxic water made headlines earlier this year when health investigators initially linked alkalized water sold by Nevada-based water company Real Water to severe illnesses in five children in Clark County, Nevada. But the new report from the CDC offers the most complete look at the identified cases and illnesses.
The saga began in November and December of 2020, when the five children—ranging in age from seven months to five years—became severely ill with acute liver failure after drinking the water. They were hospitalized and later transferred to a children's hospital for a potential liver transplant—though they all subsequently recovered without a transplant. Local health officials investigating the unusual cluster found that family members had also been sickened. The only common link between the cases was the alkalized water, which Real Water claimed was a healthier alternative to tap water.
In mid-March, the Food and Drug Administration contacted Real Water about the cases and urged the company to recall their water, which was sold in multiple states, including Nevada, California, Utah, and Arizona. Real Water agreed to issue the recall. However, by the end of the month, the FDA reported that retailers were still selling the potentially dangerous water, and the regulator tried to warn consumers directly. By then, Nevada health officials had linked the water to six additional cases, including three more children, bringing the total to 11.
Now, according to the new report, the tally has increased to 25: 18 probable cases and four suspected cases in Nevada, as well as three probable cases in California.
All 21 probable cases ended up hospitalized, and 18 required intensive care. One woman in her 60s with underlying medical conditions died of complications from her liver inflammation.
(Score: 2) by istartedi on Monday November 22 2021, @06:49PM (2 children)
Of all the stupidity circulating around, this one gets me because when I was a kid it seemed like every other western had a scene where thirsty pioneers discovered water and the old trail guide yanked people back from the watering hole and told them not to drink it. "That's alkali water" he'd say. "That's why there's no plants growing next to it. It'll kill you too if you drink it. Mount up. We'll just have to wait until we get in to the town".
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(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 22 2021, @10:27PM (1 child)
You are probably thinking of arsenic, rather than alkali:
https://truewestmagazine.com/a-deadly-oasis/ [truewestmagazine.com]
(Score: 1) by istartedi on Monday November 22 2021, @11:55PM
Arsenic may have been the more deadly element, but I'm pretty sure it was common to refer to bad water as "alkali" or "alkaline". Arsenic is tasteless, but you can taste the pH if it's off so they'd know about it. If it was water that was in an evaporating pool, it would concentrate metals and also become more alkaline. I couldn't find a good video clip from an old western, but here's a history that uses the term alkaline [legendsofamerica.com](paragraph near the bottom).
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