Gastroenteritis: Case Study of a Colorado Outbreak

Abstract

A waterborne nonbacterial gastroenteritis outbreak occurred in March 1981 in the Colorado communities served by the Eagle‐Vail Water District. The outbreak was linked to a chlorinator failure as well as a long‐standing filter deficiency and malfunction of an upstream sewage treatment plant. Illness was statistically associated with water consumption. The direct costs for medical care, time lost from work, purchase of bottled water, and emergency repairs to the water treatment system were estimated to have been $258 231, or $73 per resident. Costs to rectify the problems discovered in the water treatment plant, including long‐term improvements, were almost $1.2 million.

A fatal waterborne disease epidemic in Walkerton, Ontario: comparison with other waterborne outbreaks in the developed world

“…Concerns about contamination from farming were raised at the commissioning of the well in 1978 but no explicit source protection measures were ever adopted. Poor location was a factor at Disraeli where Richmond Height, FL, USA 1,200 cases of gastroenteritis, likely Weissman et al, 1976January-March 1974 shigellosis served by chlorinated shallow (6-15 m) groundwater Bradford, PA, USA 3,500 cases of gastroenteritis of unidentified Akin & Jakubowski, 1986September-December 1979 aetiology in a chlorinated groundwater supply Bramham, England 3,000 cases of gastroenteritis of unidentified Short, 1988July 1980 aetiology in a direct filtered and chlorinated supply Eagle-Vail, CO, USA 80 cases of gastroenteritis likely rotavirus in a Hopkins et al, 1986March 1981 direct filtered and chlorinated supply Orangeville, ON, Canada 241 cases of campylobacteriosis in an Millson et al, 1991April 1985 unchlorinated groundwater supply Pittsfield MA, USA 3,800 cases of giardiasis in a chlorinated Kent et al, 1988November 1985-January but unfiltered water supply 1986 Disraeli, PQ, Canada 50 cases of gastroenteritis associated with Tessier et al, 1987August 1986 three cases of campylobacteriosis in an unchlorinated, unfiltered surface supply Penticton, BC, Canada 3,000 cases of giardiasis in a chlorinated, Moorehead et al, 1990June 1986 unfiltered, surface/groundwater supply…”