'Black yeast' poses little health risk

Albuquerque -- A fungus called "black yeast" found in bottles of treated river water in Albuquerque poses little risk to the public, a New Mexico health official said.

Authorities reported the "black yeast" in bottled water used to get local residents used to the river water that will be the main water source in Albuquerque next fall.

Judith Espinoza with the New Mexico State Health Department said there were no reported cases of infection from drinking the water, the Albuquerque Journal said Tuesday.

Espinoza said nobody should drink water with unknown floating objects in it but said that was largely "just common sense."

Minor infections were reported from contact with the fungus and open cuts but Espinoza told the Journal that such minor infections could be treated with anti-fungal medication.

Water from the Albuquerque water utility "met or exceeded" all drinking-water treatment regulations, the New Mexico Environment Department said last week.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.