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Title
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A large community outbreak of gastroenteritis associated with consumption of drinking water contaminated by river water, Belgium, 2010
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Author
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Abstract
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| On 6 December 2010 a fire in Hemiksem, Belgium, was extinguished by the fire brigade with both river water and tap water. Local physicians were asked to report all cases of gastroenteritis. We conducted a retrospective cohort study among 1000 randomly selected households. We performed a statistical and geospatial analysis. Human stool samples, tap water and river water were tested for pathogens. Of the 1185 persons living in the 528 responding households, 222 (18.7%) reported symptoms of gastroenteritis during the time period 6-13 December. Drinking tap water was significantly associated with an increased risk for gastroenteritis (relative risk 3.67, 95% confidence interval 2.86-4.70) as was place of residence. Campylobacter sp. (2/56), norovirus GI and GII (11/56), rotavirus (1/56) and Giardia lamblia (3/56) were detected in stool samples. Tap water samples tested positive for faecal indicator bacteria and protozoa. The results support the hypothesis that a point-source contamination of the tap water with river water was the cause of the multi-pathogen waterborne outbreak. |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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Epidemiology and infection. - London, 1987, currens
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Publication
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London
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2015
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ISSN
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0950-2688
[print]
1469-4409
[online]
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DOI
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10.1017/S0950268814001629
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Volume/pages
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143
:4
(2015)
, p. 711-719
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ISI
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000351058600006
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Pubmed ID
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25062494
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Full text (Publisher's DOI)
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Full text (open access)
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