AVONLEA, Sask. - Health officials say they're investigating why there are suddenly so many appendicitis cases in Avonlea, Saskatchewan.
Since the middle of last month, six people in the town southwest of Regina have had to have their appendixes removed. There are only 400 people in Avonlea and there was only one case in the last five years before the recent outbreak.
Even Avonlea's mayor has been affected - he's recovering in hospital in Moose Jaw after his appendix burst.
Avonlea got a new water treatment system over the summer, but the town's administrator says the provincial lab says everything is OK.
Dr. Fauzi Ramadan of the Five Hills Health Region says they're not ruling out the water as investigators try to figure out the cause.
"It is interesting," Fauzi said.
Shayna Senger and Delilah Eason, two young girls from Avonlea who both had their appendixes removed, said the experience was unpleasant.
"I felt really sick. I couldn't even walk," said Eason.
