This book examines, in both a current and historical context, water-related illness in the U.S. Emphasis is placed upon the transmission of infectious diseases through contaminated drinking water supplies and those deficiencies in water supply systems which allow waterborne outbreaks to occur. Chapters have been included on the important etiologic agents responsible for waterborne outbreaks in the U.S., surveillance activities, regulations, water treatment to prevent the occurrence of waterborne outbreaks and procedures for investigating waterborne outbreaks. For completeness, discussion have been included on illnesses contracted by ingestion of contact with waters for bathing , swimming, or wading and chronic ingestion of low levels of chemical contaminants in drinking water; however, because of space limitations there are necessarily brief, and the reader is directed toward the provided references, which discuss these subjects in more depth.

Written by a team of international experts, this third edition designed to guide public health personnel or teams in any country that investigates reports of alleged waterborne illnesses. The manual is based on epidemiologic principles and investigative techniques that have been found effective in determining causal factors of disease incidence. The guidelines are presented in the sequence usually followed during investigations and are organized so that an investigator can easily find the information needed in any phase of an investigation. The book services as a guide to: • Develop a waterborne disease surveillance and emergency operations program • Handle illness alerts and water-related complaints that may be related to illness • Interview ill persons, those at risk, and controls • Develop a case definition • Transport water specimens and clinical specimens • Trace sources of contamination • Identify factors responsible for contamination, survival of pathogenic microorganisms or toxic substances, and/or propagation of pathogens • Collate and interpret collected data • Report information about the outbreak This edition has been extensively updated. A section has been added on water not intended for drinking as a source of illness. The chapter on “collection and analysis of data” has been significantly expanded to explain how data is collected and used to suggest possible vehicles, routes, and agents. The book is designed to improve the quality of investigation of outbreaks and disease surveillance. The International Association for Food Protection is a non-profit association of food safety professionals. Dedicated to the life-long educational needs of its Members, IAFP provides Members with an information network through its two scientific journals (Food Protection Trends and Journal of Food Protection), its educational Annual Meeting, international meetings and symposia along with international interaction between food safety professionals.