Waterborne shigellosis at a public school

In November 1972 an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness occurred at a public school in Stockport, Iowa. One hundred ninety-four (72%) of 269 pupils and 14 (16%) of 23 staff members were affected. The etiologic agent was a strain of Shigella sonnei resistant to multiple antimicrobials. Waterborne transmission of shigellosis was documented epidemiologically and by isolation of the organism from the school water system. Ninety-seven (14%) of 698 of the students' household contacts developed diarrhea, and possible secondary cases also occurred in 3 (9%) of 32 household contacts of school staff.