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Children may be more vulnerable to disease outbreaks caused by harmful algal blooms
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Children appear to be at higher risk of disease caused by freshwater harmful algal blooms, according to a report from the CDC.
The report compiled human health data and water sampling results submitted to the CDC’s Waterborne Disease and Outbreak Surveillance System (WBDOSS) for 2009-2010. All of the 11 reported waterborne disease outbreaks that involved harmful algal blooms (HABs) for 2009-2010 were identified in freshwater lakes. These outbreaks affected at least 61 individuals and occurred in three states (New York, Ohio and Washington).
The signs and symptoms associated with these outbreaks included dermatologic, gastrointestinal, respiratory and neurological presentations. These HAB-related outbreaks accounted for 46% of the 24 total reported outbreaks related to untreated recreational water in 2009-2010. Additionally, the 11 HAB-related outbreaks for 2009-2010 represented 79% of the 14 freshwater HAB-related outbreaks reported since 1978, according to the findings published in MMWR.
Of the 61 documented illnesses associated with the HAB-related outbreaks, there were two (3%) hospitalizations and no deaths. Fifty-eight of the 61 patients sought medical care; seven (12%) visited an ED and 34 (59%) sought care from another type of medical provider. From reports in which demographic data was provided, the report gleaned that 34 patients (59%) were female and 38 (66%) were aged 19 years or younger. The median duration of an outbreak was 9 days (range: 0-44 days). Although the time to disease onset was not available for all cases, the earliest onset of symptoms was reported to have occurred within 1 day of exposure.
Although water testing protocol varied among outbreak investigations, four investigations included detection of multiple cyanotoxins. Cyanotoxins, which are potentially harmful to the liver, brain and skin, are produced by cyanobacteria, a common constituent of freshwater HABs.
The report conjectured that children might be at higher risk of HAB-related disease due to greater exposure to, and ingestion of, recreational water.
“This report represents a first attempt to summarize a group of freshwater HAB-associated recreational waterborne disease outbreaks,” the researchers wrote. “More resources are needed for improvements in risk characterization of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins exposure, water monitoring for potentially toxic cyanobacteria, cyanotoxin analysis of water samples and biologic specimens, and case-finding for human illnesses associated with exposure to HABs in recreational waters.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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