Outbreaks of Acute Gastroenteritis Transmitted by Person-to-Person Contact, Environmental Contamination, and Unknown Modes of Transmission - United States, 2009-2013.

Outbreaks of Acute Gastroenteritis Transmitted by Person-to-Person Contact, Environmental Contamination, and Unknown Modes of Transmission - United States, 2009-2013.
MMWR Surveill Summ. 2015;64(12):1-16
Authors: Wikswo ME, Kambhampati A, Shioda K, Walsh KA, Bowen A, Hall AJ
Abstract
PROBLEM/CONDITION: Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a major cause of illness in the United States, with an estimated 179 million episodes annually. AGE outbreaks propagated through direct person-to-person contact, contaminated environmental surfaces, and unknown modes of transmission were not systematically captured at the national level before 2009 and thus were not well characterized.
REPORTING PERIOD: 2009-2013.
DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEM: The National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS) is a voluntary national reporting system that supports reporting of all waterborne and foodborne disease outbreaks and all AGE outbreaks resulting from transmission by contact with contaminated environmental sources, infected persons or animals, or unknown modes. Local, state, and territorial public health agencies within the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia (DC), five U.S. territories, and three Freely Associated States report outbreaks to CDC via NORS using a standard online data entry system.
RESULTS: A total of 10,756 AGE outbreaks occurred during 2009-2013, for which the primary mode of transmission occurred through person-to-person contact,...

Source: MMWR Surveill Summ - December 16, 2015 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Wikswo ME, Kambhampati A, Shioda K, Walsh KA, Bowen A, Hall AJ Tags: MMWR Surveill Summ Source Type: research