Outbreaks in Drinking-Water Systems, 1991-1998

During 1991-1998,126 outbreaks, 429,021 cases of illness, 653 hospitalizations, and 58 deaths were reported in public and individual water systems in 41 states and three U.S. territories. A bacterial, viral, or protozoan etiology was identified in 41 percent of the outbeaks, and a chemial contaminan...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of environmental health 2002-07, Vol.65 (1), p.16-23
Main Authors: Craun, Gunther F., Nwachuku, Nena, Calderon, Rebecca L., Craun, Michael F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Bacteria
Bacteria - classification
Bacteria - isolation & purification
Bacteria - pathogenicity
Chemical water pollution
Contamination
Disease outbreaks
Disease Outbreaks - statistics & numerical data
Drinking water
Environmental agencies
Environmental health
Epidemiology
Etiology
Eukaryota - classification
Eukaryota - isolation & purification
Eukaryota - pathogenicity
FEATURES
Groundwater
Groundwater contamination
Humans
Illnesses
Protection and preservation
Public health
Surface water
United States - epidemiology
Viruses
Viruses - classification
Viruses - isolation & purification
Viruses - pathogenicity
Water Microbiology
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water pollution
Water samples
Water Supply - analysis
Waterborne infections
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:During 1991-1998,126 outbreaks, 429,021 cases of illness, 653 hospitalizations, and 58 deaths were reported in public and individual water systems in 41 states and three U.S. territories. A bacterial, viral, or protozoan etiology was identified in 41 percent of the outbeaks, and a chemial contaminant was identified in 18 percent. No etiologicaal agent was determined in the remaining outbreaks. Important causes of outbreaks included contamination of untreated groundwater, inadequate disinfection of groundwater, and distribution system deficiencies, especially cross-connections and corrosive water. The responsible pathogen or chemical was identified in water samples collected during 31 percent of the reported outbreaks. Coliform bacteria were detected in water samples collected during the investigation of infectious-disease outbreaks in 83 percent of noncommunity and 46 percent of community water systems, but very few of these systems had exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's maximum limit for total coliforms in the 12 months before the outbreak.
ISSN:0022-0892