20.jun.06
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Centers for Disease Control
David M. Hartley,*Comments Karl C. Klontz,Üá Patricia Ryan,ß and J. Glenn Morris Jr*
*University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; ÜThe George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Washington, DC, USA; áUS Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA; and ßMaryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
To the Editor: Floret et al. argue convincingly that natural disasters, including severe floods and windstorms, tend not to result in epidemics of infectious disease (1). This conclusion is consistent with the lack of epidemics of shigellosis and cryptosporidiosis after hurricane rains in Baltimore, Maryland.
Shigellosis and cryptosporidiosis are associated with waterborne and foodborne transmission (2,3). We examined Baltimore shigellosis and cryptosporidiosis incidence to assess whether disease risk was related to temperature or rainfall from January 1, 1998, to December 31, 2004. Maryland FoodNet supplied case data; population estimates were acquired from the Maryland Department of Planning State Data Center; and meteorologic data for Baltimore Washington International airport (≈10 miles from the city center) were obtained from the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (4).…

Continue Reading Letter: Shigellosis and Cryptosporidiosis, Baltimore, Maryland

RWIs can be spread by swallowing, breathing or having contact with contaminated water
Monday, June 05, 2006
Gail Larkin
Staten Island Advance
We were enjoying the water of a local community pool on a hot sunny afternoon when the lifeguard blew the whistle. As he waved everyone out of the pool, I wondered what was going on. I looked around to see if storm clouds were building.
Perhaps we had missed hearing thunder; but the sky was clear without any sign of an approaching storm. A minute later we learned that feces had been found floating in the pool and we had to stay out of the water for several hours. It turned out to be the rest of the day.
Strict health guidelines mandated that the pool be doused with large quantities of chlorine followed by water testing. The lifeguards explained that the health protocols were such that closing the pool was not only mandatory but in everyone’s best interest.…

Continue Reading Be on guard against recreational water illness

By the Gazette-Times
With summer approaching, many people seek recreational activities on local waterways or backyard pools. Benton County Environmental Health officials encourage swimmers to practice healthy behaviors to prevent water illnesses.
Recreational water illnesses are spread by swimming in water contaminated as a result of poorly maintained recreational water venues, the presence of chlorine-resistant germs, or runoff-related contamination of lakes or beaches.
ìTemporary pools that are not properly disinfected and are used by a large number of people are a special concern, especially since the number of Norovirus outbreaks are on the rise in the state,î said Bill Emminger, environmental health deputy administrator.…

Continue Reading Health officials encouraging swim safety