Communitywide cryptosporidiosis outbreak in a small Oregon city

What is it about?

Cryptosporidiosis is a parasite that causes gastrointestinal illness. The water system in Baker City, Oregon was contaminated by Cryptosporidium resulting in approximately 28% of the city's population becoming ill. This paper details the outbreak and control measures.

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Why is it important?

Baker City's communitywide outbreak is the first reported cryptosporidiosis outbreak detected in a US municipal drinking water system in ~20 years. This outbreak highlights vulnerability of drinking water systems to pathogen contamination and underscores the need for communities to invest in system improvements to maintain multiple barriers to drinking water contamination.