We investigated whether risk of sporadic enteric disease differs by drinking water source and type using surveillance data and a geographic information system. We performed a cross-sectional analysis, at the individual level, that compared reported cases of enteric disease with drinking water source (surface or ground water) and type (municipal or private). We mapped 814 cases of campylobacteriosis, cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, salmonellosis and verotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection, in a region of British Columbia, Canada, from 1996 to 2005, and determined the water source and type for each case's residence. Over the 10-year period, the risk of disease was 5.2 times higher for individuals living on land parcels serviced by private wells and 2.3 times higher for individuals living on land parcels serviced by the municipal surface/ground water mixed system, than the municipal ground water system. Rates of sporadic enteric disease potentially differ by drinking water source and type. Geographic information system technology and surveillance data are accessible to local public health authorities and used together are an efficient and affordable way to assess the role of drinking water in sporadic enteric disease.
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Research Article|
July 01 2009
Where's the pump? Associating sporadic enteric disease with drinking water using a geographic information system, in British Columbia, Canada, 1996–2005
Sasha Uhlmann;
2British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 12th Avenue West, Vancouver BC, Canada V5Z 4R4
E-mail: [email protected]
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Eleni Galanis;
Eleni Galanis
2British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 12th Avenue West, Vancouver BC, Canada V5Z 4R4
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Tim Takaro;
Tim Takaro
1Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Blusson Hall, Rm 11300, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby BC, Canada V5A 1S6
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Sunny Mak;
Sunny Mak
2British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 12th Avenue West, Vancouver BC, Canada V5Z 4R4
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Larry Gustafson;
Larry Gustafson
4Fraser Health Authority, 300, 10334-152A Street, Surrey BC, Canada V3R 7P8
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Glen Embree;
Glen Embree
4Fraser Health Authority, 300, 10334-152A Street, Surrey BC, Canada V3R 7P8
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Neil Bellack;
Neil Bellack
3University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
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Kitty Corbett;
Kitty Corbett
1Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Blusson Hall, Rm 11300, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby BC, Canada V5A 1S6
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Judy Isaac-Renton
Judy Isaac-Renton
2British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 12th Avenue West, Vancouver BC, Canada V5Z 4R4
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J Water Health (2009) 7 (4): 692–698.
Article history
Received:
September 04 2008
Accepted:
March 15 2009
Citation
Sasha Uhlmann, Eleni Galanis, Tim Takaro, Sunny Mak, Larry Gustafson, Glen Embree, Neil Bellack, Kitty Corbett, Judy Isaac-Renton; Where's the pump? Associating sporadic enteric disease with drinking water using a geographic information system, in British Columbia, Canada, 1996–2005. J Water Health 1 December 2009; 7 (4): 692–698. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2009.108
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