Canoe

MONCTON, N.B. (CP) -- Four cases of E. coli contamination have been confirmed in New Brunswick.

The latest case, confirmed Monday, involves a 12-year-old boy who is said to be in stable condition in a Moncton hospital.

Doctors at the George Dumont Hospital say tests showed the infection was E. coli 0157 -- the same deadly strain that hit Walkerton, Ont.

Seven deaths have been confirmed to the bacteria outbreak in the water. The possible death toll from the tainted water tragedy in that province has hit 21.

Officials have not released information on the other three cases in New Brunswick. But they say no one has died from the bacterial infection.

New Brunswick's chief medical officer says officials have been looking for a common source, but can't find one. Dr. Wayne MacDonald adds they still aren't sure how the outbreak started.

Grocery stores in the Moncton area are selling ground beef. Some have posted signs noting that the meat for sale is not among the hamburger recalled last week pending a check of possible bacteria infection.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), June 27, 2000