2017/11/09 by R. Paul McClung, David Roth, Marissa Vigar +8 · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Immunology and Microbiology · Health Professions · Medicine · #Legionella and Acanthamoeba research #Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics #Pediatric health and respiratory diseases #Outbreak #Waterborne diseases #Environmental health #Cryptosporidium #Medicine #Feces #Ecology #Virology #Biology
paper · pdf · doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6644a4
openalex publication_date 2017/11/09 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
Waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States are associated with a wide variety of water exposures and are reported annually to CDC on a voluntary basis by state and territorial health departments through the National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS). A majority of outbreaks arise from exposure to drinking water (1) or recreational water (2), whereas others are caused by an environmental exposure to water or an undetermined exposure to water. During 2013-2014, 15 outbreaks associated with an environmental exposure to water and 12 outbreaks with an undetermined exposure to water were reported, resulting in at least 289 cases of illness, 108 hospitalizations, and 17 deaths. Legionella was responsible for 63% of the outbreaks, 94% of hospitalizations, and all deaths. Outbreaks were also caused by Cryptosporidium, Pseudomonas, and Giardia, including six outbreaks of giardiasis caused by ingestion of water from a river, stream, or spring. Water management programs can effectively prevent outbreaks caused by environmental exposure to water from human-made water systems, while proper point-of-use treatment of water can prevent outbreaks caused by ingestion of water from natural water systems.