Tanzanian Association Oslo

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Health authorities declared the capital's tap water safe to drink again on Sunday afternoon.

The welcome news came at a press conference held by the city Department of Water and Sanitation. The Food Safety Authority and Oslo health authorities announced that the recommendation to boil tap water had been lifted.

The decision came as a result of analysis results of further water samples and deliberation from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH).

"We have received results from 80 samples and only one shows traces of the Giardia parasite. This sample was taken yesterday at Kalbakkveien 16 in Oslo. Nevertheless health authorities advise that the boiling of tap water can cease," said Finn Johansen, director of Oslo water and sanitation.

Medical director for contagious disease, Frantz Leonard Nilsen said that Oslo's water was now completely normal.

"The tiny amount of parasites now present are at levels one must expect," Nilsen said.

None of the persons recently feared infected with Giardia have returned tests with 'abnormal parasite levels'.

Most of Oslo's residents were advised to boil tap water last Wednesday after both Giardia and cryptosporidium parasites were found in samples from three places in the Storo district.