Category Archives: Water Safety

USA – New York City reports spike in Cyclospora infections

Posted on July 22, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

New York City health officials are advising clinicians to be on the alert for patients with diarrhea due to Cyclospora infection.

From the beginning of the year through July 15, officials report 90 cases, including 40 cases since the beginning of the month. Approximately 30 percent of patients have reported travel outside of the United States in the two weeks prior to symptom onset, primarily to Latin America.

This compares with 56 cases in 2018, and 43 cases in 2017 during the same time period.

Epidemiologic investigations are ongoing to determine if there is a possible common food source for cases with no travel outside of NYC.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Cyclospora, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

USA – Sixth Case of Legionnaires’ Linked to Sheraton Atlanta Hotel

Posted on July 19, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

CDC legionella

Image CDC

As of today, 6 cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been linked to the Sheraton Downtown Atlanta Hotel. Following news of the hotel’s shut down last week, the Georgia Department of Health announced its involvement in the outbreak investigation.

The hotel said in a public statement that it could be several weeks before it reopens as health officials investigate. Meanwhile, guests of the hotel were relocated to the Hilton not far from the property.

Georgia Department of Public Health states it doesn’t know if the guests contracted the disease while actually staying at the hotel. The health agency believes the water system of the hotel could be to blame. “They have a beautiful swimming pool and it’s shut down right now. They say they’re working on the filtration system. Maybe they haven’t made the linkage,” Georgia State Epidemiologist Cherie Drenzek said.

But the pool isn’t the only suspect. “Showerheads, hot tubs, perhaps even some outbreaks in the past have been associated with decorative fountains,” Georgia Department of Health epidemiologist Cherie Drenzek said.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Legionella, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Research – Stainless Steel Sinks & Taps Linked to Legionnaires’ Disease

Posted on July 13, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Legionella Control

CDC legionella

Image CDC

Recent research looking at the growth of Legionella bacteria on stainless steel sinks and taps has shown that under certain conditions, the use of this popular metal can increase the health risks associated with the potentially life-threatening Legionnaires’ disease.

Stainless steel sinks are a popular choice in kitchens throughout the UK… however, research has indicated it may not be the wisest choice when considering the associated risks presented by the potentially deadly Legionella bacteria.

The same applies to stainless steel taps – also a popular choice for many understandable reasons.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Legionella, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

USA – E. coli Outbreak at Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota Sickens 30

Posted on July 10, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

A rather strange E. coli outbreak has sickened 30 people who visited Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota over the Fourth of July weekend. According to news reports, people have contacted the Hennepin County Public Health after they were on the lake, especially in the Big Island area. Those 30 cases have been confirmed by the department.

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Posted in Contaminated water, E.coli, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

USA – Cryptosporidiosis Outbreaks — United States, 2009–2017

Posted on July 4, 2019 by | Leave a comment

CDC

What is already known about this topic?

Cryptosporidium is the leading cause of outbreaks of diarrhea linked to water and the third leading cause of diarrhea associated with animal contact in the United States.

What is added by this report?

During 2009–2017, 444 cryptosporidiosis outbreaks, resulting in 7,465 cases were reported by 40 states and Puerto Rico. The number of reported outbreaks has increased an average of approximately 13% per year. Leading causes include swallowing contaminated water in pools or water playgrounds, contact with infected cattle, and contact with infected persons in child care settings.

What are the implications for public health practice?

To prevent cryptosporidiosis outbreaks, CDC recommends not swimming or attending child care if ill with diarrhea and recommends hand washing after contact with animals.

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Posted in Boil Water Notice, Contaminated water, Cryptosporidium, Food Microbiology Blog, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Europe – Giardiasis (lambliasis) – Annual Epidemiological Report for 2017

Posted on June 16, 2019 by | Leave a comment

ECDC

CDC Giardia2

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Key facts
• In 2017, 19 437 confirmed giardiasis cases were reported in the EU/EEA.
• The EU/EEA notification rate was 5.5 cases per 100 000 population. The highest notification rates were reported in Belgium, Estonia and Sweden.
• The highest notification rate per 100 000 was observed in the age group 0–4 years (17.6 for males and 14.9 for females).
• While the EU/EEA notification rate was stable during the period 2013–2017, the annual number of cases has increased steadily.

Report Download

 

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Posted in Boil Water Notice, Contaminated water, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Giardia, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Norway – Norway officials trying to ID water contamination source – Campylobacter

Posted on June 13, 2019 by | Leave a comment

NF Chronicle

Campylobacter

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Norwegian authorities said Tuesday they were trying to identify the source of water contamination that has sent dozens of people in southern Norway to the hospital.

Since Thursday, 55 people — including 13 children — from Askoey, an island north of Bergen, have been hospitalized following the contamination. All have been discharged. Norwegian news agency NTB reported that in all, some 2,000 people had fallen sick.

A 1-year-old child on the island died last week of an infection in the digestive tract, but it was not clear whether it was linked to the contamination.

He said tests showed that the bacteria Campylobacter has been found in 36 cases.

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Posted in Campylobacter, Contaminated water, food contamination, food death, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

USA – NYC officials advise providers to look out for Legionnaires’ disease

Posted on June 10, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

Legionella A

Image CDC

New York City health officials are advising providers to test for Legionella in adults with pneumonia, particularly patients who are > 50 years or have lung disease, immune-suppression, or a history of smoking.

Legionnaires’ disease follows a seasonal pattern in New York City, with an increased number of cases
reported from June to October each year.  NYC sees between 200 and 500 cases of Legionnaires’ disease each year.

While it remains a relatively rare infection, the rate of Legionnaires’ disease is increasing significantly in NYC. From 2007-2017, there was an 8.1% average increase in the rate of Legionnaires’ disease cases citywide each year.

The rate of Legionnaires’ disease increased significantly in all boroughs and demographic groups over this period.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Legionella, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Research – Hot Tubs Caused Legionnaires Outbreak of 1999 Killing At Least 32

Posted on June 5, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Legionella Control

One of the largest recorded outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease

An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease can affect many people, depending on the circumstances and how long it takes for the outbreak to be discovered. One of the largest ever known outbreaks of the disease to date took place in the Netherlands in 1999. It was named after the town in which it occurred, Bovenkarspel in Northern Holland.

The outbreak began on 25th February that year, in the middle of the Westfriese Flora, which was later renamed as the Holland Flowers Festival. The exhibition took place indoors and attracted many hundreds of visitors. The festival ended on 28th of that month, although it would not be known for some days that anything was amiss.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Food Micro Blog, Legionella, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Belgium – 16 people sickened with Legionnaires’ disease, one dead in East Flanders

Posted on May 15, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today Legionella_Plate_01

At least 16 people in the Evergem municipality of East Flanders province in northern Belgium has been sickened with Legionanaires’ disease, according to the Flemish Agency for Health and Safety (computer translated).

In addition, one patient has died while being treated at Ghent University Hospital. The first complaints from patients date from the period between April 29 and May 6. the most recent patients presented with illness between 7 and 10 May.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Legionella, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety