Norwalk Gastroenteritis Associated with a Water System in a Rural Georgia Community |
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| Authors: | Richard A Goodman MD James W Buehler MD Harry B Greenberg MD Thomas W Mckinley MPH J David Smith BS |
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| Institution: | 1. Office of Epidemiology Georgia Department of Human Resources , Atlanta , Georgia 30334;2. Field Services Division Epidemiology Program Office , Centers for Disease Control , Atlanta , Georgia 30333;3. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , Maryland 20014;4. Office of Epidemiology Georgia Department of Human Resources , Atlanta , Georgia 30334 |
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| Abstract: | An outbreak of acute gastroenteritis occurred during January 4–9, 1982, in a rural community in north Georgia. A systematic telephone survey revealed that 63% of persons living in homes served by the community water system had symptoms of acute gastroenteritis in contrast to 9% of persons in homes served by private wells or other sources (P < .001). A fourfold rise in antibody titer to the Norwalk virus occurred in 20 of 22 serum pairs obtained from ill persons. Fecal coliforms (> 16 MPN/100 ml) were detected in a spring which served as one water source for the community system. Surface runoff from a heavy rainfall, which preceded the outbreak, may have contaminated the system. Outbreaks of gastroenteritis should be promptly reported and investigated to facilitate corrective measures and to identify causative agents such as Norwalk virus. |
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| Keywords: | Coal comet assay DNA damage vegetables |
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