Outbreak of gastroenteritis associated with an interactive water fountain at a beachside park--Florida, 1999

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2000 Jun 30;49(25):565-8.

Abstract

Since 1989, approximately 170 outbreaks associated with recreational water venues (e.g., swimming pools, waterparks, fountains, hot tubs and spas, lakes, rivers, and oceans) have been reported, with almost half resulting in gastrointestinal illness (1-5). This report summarizes the investigation of an outbreak of gastroenteritis in Florida during 1999. The findings indicated that Shigella sonnei and Cryptosporidium parvum infections caused illness in persons exposed to an "interactive" water fountain at a beachside park.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Bathing Beaches
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cryptosporidiosis / epidemiology
  • Cryptosporidiosis / etiology
  • Cryptosporidium parvum / isolation & purification
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Dysentery, Bacillary / epidemiology
  • Dysentery, Bacillary / etiology
  • Female
  • Florida / epidemiology
  • Gastroenteritis / epidemiology*
  • Gastroenteritis / etiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Shigella sonnei / isolation & purification
  • Water Microbiology*