A common-source epidemic of mixed bacterial diarrhea with secondary transmission

Abstract

An epidemic of acute diarrhea in a village in southern India in 1972 was associated with a high rate of isolation of enteric pathogenic bacteria from the patients and lasted for three months. There was no significant association between the prevalence of enteroviruses or parasites and cases of diarrhea. The epidemic started as a common-source outbreak due to the contamination of well water, and there were many secondary cases probably due to a person-to-person spread. The illness did not produce chronic diarrhea or malabsorption.