Colorado Seeks Federal Help with Salmonella Outbreak

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter is asking the federal government for help with the salmonella outbreak in Alamosa that has sickened more than 200 people.

Ritter has asked the Department of Health and Human Services for help from its experts.

Tests have confirmed that the outbreak of salmonella is linked to the city’s drinking water source. The southern Colorado town of 8,500 draws its water from wells tapping the aquifer.

More than 200 have been stricken. Nine people were hospitalized and one person is still in the hospital.

Officials don’t know how the water was contaminated. The city planned to start disinfecting the water system Tuesday by flushing large volumes of chlorine through the pipes.