title: A large community outbreak of gastroenteritis associated with consumption of drinking water contaminated by river water, Belgium, 2010.
abstract: SUMMARY 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.
authors: Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases,Scientific Institute of Public Health,Brussels,Belgium.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Braeye
authors: Department of Infectious Disease Control,Agency of Care and Health,Antwerp,Belgium.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: DE Schrijver
authors: Laboratory of Clinical Virology,Rega Institute for Medical Research, Catholic University of Leuven,Leuven,Belgium.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Wollants
authors: Laboratory of Clinical Virology,Rega Institute for Medical Research, Catholic University of Leuven,Leuven,Belgium.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: van Ranst
authors: Department of Microbiology,Catholic University of Leuven,Leuven,Belgium.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Verhaegen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D016829:Giardia lamblia; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029322:Norovirus; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D045483:Rivers; D012401:Rotavirus; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water
keywords: waterborne