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Updated: Jul 6, 2026
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EPA Method 1615. Measurement of Enterovirus and Norovirus Occurrence in Water by Culture and RT-qPCR. Part III. Virus Detection by RT-qPCR
Published on: January 16, 2016
Gastroenteritis outbreak at holiday resort, central Italy
Giacomo Migliorati1, Vincenza Prencipe, Alessandro Ripani
1Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo and Molise "G. Caporale," Teramo, Italy. g.migliorati@izs.it
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|March 8, 2008
Summary
A 2003 gastroenteritis outbreak in Italy was caused by fecally contaminated water. Leaking groundwater and seawater infiltrated the resort's drinking water system, leading to widespread infection.
Area of Science:
- Environmental health
- Infectious disease epidemiology
- Waterborne illness
Background:
- Gastroenteritis outbreaks pose significant public health risks, particularly in communal settings like holiday resorts.
- Ensuring the safety of drinking water supplies is crucial for preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cause of a gastroenteritis outbreak at a central Italy holiday resort in the summer of 2003.
- To identify the source and transmission pathways of the infectious agent responsible for the outbreak.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the resort's water systems, including both drinking and non-drinking water supplies.
- Assessed potential sources of fecal contamination, such as groundwater and seawater.
- Examined the cross-contamination pathways between different water systems.
Main Results:
- Fecal contamination was identified in the resort's non-drinking water system.
- A connection was discovered between the non-drinking water system and the main drinking water supply.
- This cross-contamination facilitated the spread of the gastroenteritis outbreak.
Conclusions:
- The outbreak was primarily caused by the introduction of fecal contaminants into the drinking water system.
- Failures in water system integrity and cross-contamination were key factors in the disease transmission.
- Recommendations for improved water safety management in similar environments are implied.
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