Water and Disease After Croydon: A Review of Water-borne and Water-associated Disease in the UK 1937–86 |
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| Authors: | N S GALBRAITH FRCP FFCM DPH NICOLA J BARRETT PhD ROSALIND STANWELL-SMITH MRCOG MFCM |
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| Affiliation: | Dr Galhraith is Director, and Dr. Barrett is Senior Rescarch Assistant, Communicable Disease Survcillance Centre, Public Health Laboratory Service, London. Dr Stanwell-Smith is Specialist in Community Medicine (Environmental Health), Bristol and Weston Health Authority. |
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| Abstract: | T here W ere 34 outbreaks of water-borne disease recorded in the UK between 1937 and 1986, comprising over 11794 cases and at least six deaths. A total of 21 outbreaks were due to public water supplies, 11 of them contaminated at source; in eight of these 11 the water was unchlorinated or defectively chlorinated. None of the six reported deaths was due to contamination of public supplies at source. About 1000 cases of gastro-intestinal illness were caused by consumption ofafoods, particularly milk and canned nicats, that had been contaminated by polluted water during processing. Shellfish harvested from pollutcd cstuarics gave rise to increasing numbers of outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis and hepatitis A. The recreational use of water was associated with about 400 serious infections and probably many minor illnesses. Sonie hospital infections may have hecn derived from the potable water supply. A total of 14 outbreaks of legionnaires' disease and eight of humidifier fever were associated with water in buildings.
The future control of water-borne and waterassociated disease demands not only continued vigilance in the water industry but closer collaboration between public health doctors and water engineers and scientists. |
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