Is Chico’s E. coli outbreak from homeless people? Could septic tanks be to blame? Is Butte County still testing the creek? Public health addressed community concerns — and here’s how they answered the question everyone’s asking.

Rumors continue to circulate that unhoused residents living in Bidwell Park are to blame for the E. coli O157 outbreak in Big Chico Creek. But Butte County Public Health maintains that’s unlikely.

Health Officer Dr. Jarett Beaudoin said he’s been hearing a lot of concerns from residents about the source of the bacteria and addressed them in a video Thursday.

“The most common question I get when I’m talking to people is, ‘how do we know that this isn’t due to homeless people living in the park?’” Beaudoin said.

An investigation is ongoing. Beaudoin said no possi

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