The UK Health Security Agency has published a detailed account of how it detected and responded to the cryptosporidium outbreak in Brixham, Devon, earlier this year, providing a rare insight into the detective work that is required to identify the source of a disease outbreak and to prevent it from spreading.
The account describes how a cluster of cases of gastrointestinal illness was identified through routine surveillance, how the UKHSA's epidemiological investigation traced the source to the local water supply, and how the response was coordinated across multiple agencies to ensure that the affected population was protected and that the water supply was made safe.
The Brixham outbreak affected approximately 1,200 people and was caused by the parasite cryptosporidium, which is resistant to chlorine and which can cause severe diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration. The outbreak was one of the largest waterborne disease events in the UK in recent years and prompted a review of the monitoring and treatment of drinking water supplies.
The UKHSA said the account was published as part of its commitment to transparency and to sharing the lessons of outbreak investigations with the public health community. The agency said the investigation had identified several areas where the response could be improved, including the speed of communication with the public and the coordination of the agencies involved.
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