|
Cause:
Many infectious agents including viruses, bacteria, and
parasites. Common agents are norovirus, Giardia, and
Cryptosporidium. Bacterial agents are less commonly
implicated.
Illness and treatment:
Symptoms and treatment vary with the agent.
Sources:
Sources vary with the agent.
Waterborne outbreaks can occur from ingestion of natural or
recreational water, including pools and interactive
fountains.
Additional risks:
Risks vary with the agent.
Prevention:
Test private wells at least
every 3 years and after potential contamination such as
after floods. If ill with diarrhea do not enter recreational
water, pools, or interactive fountains.
Recent Washington trends:
Waterborne
outbreaks are often difficult to detect. There are 0 to 3
outbreaks reported each year, each with 2 to dozens or even
hundreds of cases (Table 7).
2008:
No waterborne outbreaks were reported.
Purpose of Reporting and
Surveillance
- To identify sources of transmission (e.g., a public
swimming area) and to prevent further transmission from such
sources.
- When the
source is a risk for only a few individuals (e.g., a private
well), to inform those individuals how they can reduce their
risk of exposure.
Reporting Requirements
- Health care providers: immediately notifiable to
Local Health Jurisdiction
- Hospitals: immediately notifiable to Local Health
Jurisdiction
- Laboratories: see disease-specific requirements
- Local health jurisdictions: suspected or confirmed
outbreaks are immediately notifiable to DOH Communicable
Disease Epidemiology: 1-877-539-4344
Last
update
November 2009 |
