ALAMOSA, Colo. -- State health officials say the salmonella that has contaminated Alamosa's municipal water supply and sickened nearly 300 people is the same strain found locally in birds, deer and other warm-blooded animals.

Officials are investigating whether bird or animal droppings might have contaminated the water.

The southern Colorado city is flushing its water system with chlorine. People won't be able to drink the water until high conentrations of the disinfecting chemical washes out of the water system.

The first salmonella victim began showing symptoms March 7, and state health officials became aware of the outbreak about a week later.