Abstract
Cryptosporidium is a parasite that causes cryptosporidiosis, a profuse, watery diarrhea that can last up to 3 weeks in immunocompetent patients and can lead to life-threatening malnutrition and wasting in immunocompromised patients.* Fecal-oral transmission can occur by ingestion of contaminated recreational water, drinking water, or food, or through contact with infected persons or animals. For the period 2009-2017, public health officials from 40 states and Puerto Rico voluntarily reported 444 cryptosporidiosis outbreaks resulting in 7,465 cases. Exposure to treated recreational water (e.g., in pools and water playgrounds) was associated with 156 (35.1%) outbreaks resulting in 4,232 (56.7%) cases. Other predominant outbreak exposures included contact with cattle (65 outbreaks; 14.6%) and contact with infected persons in child care settings (57; 12.8%). The annual number of reported cryptosporidiosis outbreaks overall increased an average of approximately 13% per year over time. Reversing this trend will require dissemination of prevention messages to discourage swimming or attending child care while ill with diarrhea and encourage hand washing after contact with animals. Prevention and control measures can be optimized by improving understanding of Cryptosporidium transmission through regular analysis of systematically collected epidemiologic and molecular characterization data.
Highlights
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly ReportRadhika Gharpure, DVM1,2; Ariana Perez, MPH1,3; Allison D
Cryptosporidium caused 13 outbreaks associated with unpasteurized milk or apple cider during 2009–2017
The number of reported outbreaks has increased an average of approximately 13% per year
Summary
Radhika Gharpure, DVM1,2; Ariana Perez, MPH1,3; Allison D. For the period 2009–2017, public health officials from 40 states and Puerto Rico voluntarily reported 444 cryptosporidiosis outbreaks resulting in 7,465 cases. A cryptosporidiosis outbreak was defined as two or more cases epidemiologically linked to a common source by location and time of exposure.† Public health officials in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S territories,§ and Freely Associated States¶ voluntarily report outbreaks to CDC via the National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS). NORS outbreak reports include data on etiology; counts of primary cases, hospitalizations, and deaths; transmission mode; exposures and settings; molecular characterization; and earliest illness onset date. For the period 2009–2017, public health officials from 40 states and Puerto Rico voluntarily reported to CDC 444 cryptosporidiosis outbreaks, resulting in 7,465 cases, 287 hospitalizations, and one death (Table).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
