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. 2006 Jun;134(3):598-604.
doi: 10.1017/S0950268805005121. Epub 2005 Sep 30.

Waterborne epidemic outbreak of Shigella sonnei gastroenteritis in Santa Maria de Palautordera, Catalonia, Spain

C Arias  1 , M R Sala, A Domínguez, R Bartolomé, A Benavente, P Veciana, A Pedrol, G Hoyo; Outbreak Working Group
Affiliations

Waterborne epidemic outbreak of Shigella sonnei gastroenteritis in Santa Maria de Palautordera, Catalonia, Spain

C Arias et al. Epidemiol Infect. 2006 Jun.

Abstract

In August 2002 an outbreak of Shigella sonnei infection occurred in a Spanish town of 6343 inhabitants. In total, 756 people developed acute gastroenteritis and 181 cases were shigella-confirmed. The peak incidence was during 5-6 August 2002. The estimated primary attack rate was 9.97%; the attack rate for secondary cases was 38%. The <15 years ago group was most affected (16.49%). The town and its surroundings were served by two water systems, A and B. The cases had consumed water provided by system A (attack rate 164 cases/1000 population). Microbiological analysis of water from system A did not show the presence of coliform bacteria or shigella. This shigellosis outbreak was the largest reported in Spain. The impact of the epidemic was probably greater than the incidence detected.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Epidemic curve. Distribution of cases detected during August 2002.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Map of Santa Maria de Palautordera. Geographical distribution of water supplied by different companies (attack rate). Location of water extraction point used by companies A and C and location of water treatment plants and supply networks.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Electrophoresis profiles of 12 representative Shigella sonnei isolations from the outbreak. Lanes 1, 15, marker of molecular weight (lambda ladder PFG marker); lanes 2–7 and 9–14, strains of Shigella sonnei; lane 8, pattern strain (Salmonella enterica serovar Braenderup).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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