Open AccessWaterborne giardiasis in the United States: a review.
Author(s) -
Gunther F. Craun
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.69.8.817
Subject(s) - waterborne diseases , outbreak , giardia , environmental health , transmission (telecommunications) , surface water , water source , environmental science , medicine , veterinary medicine , virology , environmental engineering , water resource management , electrical engineering , engineering
Twenty-three waterborne outbreaks of giardiasis have been reported in the US, 1972-77. Data indicate that disinfection as the only treatment for surface water sources is ineffective in preventing waterborne transmission of this organism. To protect against transmission, all surface water should receive chemical pretreatment, preferably with sedimentation, and filtration in addition to disinfection. Outbreak data indicate that negative coliform tests do not provide assurance that water is free of Giardia cysts.