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. 2002 Jun;8(6):563-8.
doi: 10.3201/eid0806.010371.

Waterborne outbreak of Norwalk-like virus gastroenteritis at a tourist resort, Italy

Delia Boccia  1 , Alberto Eugenio Tozzi, Benvon Cotter, Caterina Rizzo, Teresa Russo, Gabriele Buttinelli, Alfredo Caprioli, Maria Luisa Marziano, Franco Maria Ruggeri
Affiliations

Waterborne outbreak of Norwalk-like virus gastroenteritis at a tourist resort, Italy

Delia Boccia et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2002 Jun.

Abstract

In July 2000, an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred at a tourist resort in the Gulf of Taranto in southern Italy. Illness in 344 people, 69 of whom were staff members, met the case definition. Norwalk-like virus (NLV) was found in 22 of 28 stool specimens tested. The source of illness was likely contaminated drinking water, as environmental inspection identified a breakdown in the resort water system and tap water samples were contaminated with fecal bacteria. Attack rates were increased (51.4%) in staff members involved in water sports. Relative risks were significant only for exposure to beach showers and consuming drinks with ice. Although Italy has no surveillance system for nonbacterial gastroenteritis, no outbreak caused by NLV has been described previously in the country.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of Italy, showing location of tourist resort on Gulf of Taranto.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Water supply system in tourist resort, Italy.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Cases of gastroenteritis with known date of onset (n=333) in guests and staff members at a tourist resort, Italy, July 2000.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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