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Contaminated drinking water in one town manifesting as an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in another

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2000

J. M. McANULTY
Affiliation:
Oregon Health Division, Center for Disease Prevention and Epidemiology, 800 NE Oregon Street, Portland, Oregon 97232 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Field Epidemiology, 1600 Clifton Road, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30333
W. E. KEENE
Affiliation:
Oregon Health Division, Center for Disease Prevention and Epidemiology, 800 NE Oregon Street, Portland, Oregon 97232
D. LELAND
Affiliation:
Oregon Health Division, Center for Disease Prevention and Epidemiology, 800 NE Oregon Street, Portland, Oregon 97232
F. HOESLY
Affiliation:
Oregon Health Division, Center for Disease Prevention and Epidemiology, 800 NE Oregon Street, Portland, Oregon 97232
B. HINDS
Affiliation:
Jackson County Health Department, 1005 E. Main Street, Medford, Oregon 97504
G. STEVENS
Affiliation:
Jackson County Health Department, 1005 E. Main Street, Medford, Oregon 97504
D. W. FLEMING
Affiliation:
Oregon Health Division, Center for Disease Prevention and Epidemiology, 800 NE Oregon Street, Portland, Oregon 97232
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Abstract

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In early 1992 we identified an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in Oregon and sought to identify and control its source. We used a series of studies to identify risk factors for illness : (i) a case-control study among employees of a long-term-care facility (LTCF); (ii) a matched case-control study of the general community; (iii) a cohort study of wedding attendees; and (iv) a cross-sectional survey of the general community. Drinking Talent water was associated with illness in the LTCF (OR = 22·7, 95% CI = 2·7–1009·0), and in the community (matched OR = 9·5, 95% CI 2·3–84·1). Drinking Talent water was associated with illness only among non-Talent residents who attended the wedding (P < 0·001) and in the community (RR = 6·5, 95% CI 3·3–12·9). The outbreak was caused by contaminated municipal water from Talent in the absence of a discernible outbreak among Talent residents, suggesting persons exposed to contaminated water may develop immunity to cryptosporidiosis.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2000 Cambridge University Press