The executive director of Kashechewan First Nation says 63 people from his community in northern Ontario have tested positive for cryptosporidium, a parasite that causes gastrointestinal illness.
This month, Chief Hosea Wesley declared a state of emergency after the local water treatment plant stopped working due to defective pumps.
Since then, many members of the community have been flown out.
Executive director Tyson Wesley says test results show water from the treatment plant has tested positive for cryptosporidium but it remains unclear how the parasite got into the plant.
Wesley said the community will request that an independent engineer do a full assessment to determine next steps.
