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

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.