Observations placeholder
Contamination of Swedish drinking water
Identifier
008333
Type of Spiritual Experience
None
Background
A description of the experience
Epidemiol Infect. 2014 Mar;142(3):592-600. doi: 10.1017/S0950268813001209. Epub 2013 May 29. Epidemiology and estimated costs of a large waterborne outbreak of norovirus infection in Sweden. Larsson C1, Andersson Y2, Allestam G2, Lindqvist A1, Nenonen N3, Bergstedt O4.
A large outbreak of norovirus (NoV) gastroenteritis caused by contaminated municipal drinking water occurred in Lilla Edet, Sweden, 2008. Epidemiological investigations performed using a questionnaire survey showed an association between consumption of municipal drinking water and illness (odds ratio 4·73, 95% confidence interval 3·53-6·32), and a strong correlation between the risk of being sick and the number of glasses of municipal water consumed.
Diverse NoV strains were detected in stool samples from patients, NoV genotype I strains predominating. Although NoVs were not detected in water samples, coliphages were identified as a marker of viral contamination.
About 2400 (18·5%) of the 13,000 inhabitants in Lilla Edet became ill.
Costs associated with the outbreak were collected via a questionnaire survey given to organizations and municipalities involved in or affected by the outbreak.
Total costs including sick leave, were estimated to be ∼8,700,000 Swedish kronor (∼€0·87 million).
PMID: 23714107