Harrison S L, Nelder R, Hayek L, Mackenzie I F, Casemore D P, Dance D
South and West Devon Health Authority, Lescaze Offices, Shinner's Bridge, Dartington, Devon TQ9 6JE.
Commun Dis Public Health. 2002 Sep;5(3):230-9.
The largest outbreak of cryptosporidiosis reported in the United Kingdom, involving 575 confirmed cases (of which 474 met an agreed case definition), occurred in the county of Devon during August and September of 1995. The descriptive epidemiology supports the hypothesis that the outbreak was associated with the consumption of cold tap water in the area served by a particular water treatment works. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in treated water samples at the time of the outbreak. Although the epidemiological analysis provided strong circumstantial evidence of a waterborne outbreak, the data were not recorded in a manner that made them admissible in criminal proceedings taken by the Drinking Water Inspectorate against the water company involved. The need to carry out an analytical study in conjunction with the identification and characterisation of the pathogen in the drinking water and the practicalities of agreeing criteria for lifting a 'boil water' notice are discussed.
1995年8月至9月期间，英国德文郡发生了有记录以来最大规模的隐孢子虫病疫情，确诊病例达575例（其中474例符合商定的病例定义）。描述性流行病学研究支持了这样一种假设：此次疫情与某一特定水处理厂供水区域内的冷自来水饮用有关。疫情发生时，在经过处理的水样中检测到了隐孢子虫卵囊。尽管流行病学分析提供了强有力的间接证据，证明此次疫情是由水传播引起的，但这些数据的记录方式使其无法在饮用水监察局对涉事自来水公司提起的刑事诉讼中被采信。本文讨论了开展分析性研究的必要性，以及鉴定和描述饮用水中病原体的方法，还有商定解除“煮沸后饮用”通知标准的实际操作问题。
