A substantial investigation by the Municipal Health Service Kennemerland and the Regional Public Health Laboratory Kennemerland and others has actually traced the source of the outbreak to the water tanks on the ship.
A common wall in between freshwater and wastewater tanks was severely worn away, permitting sewage containing the germs that causes typhoid fever to leak into the freshwater supply, which was then used for drinking water and cooking. Credit: Tanja Hartog
Among those leading the examination, Dr. Anne de Vries, of the Municipal Health Service Kennemerland, Haarlem, the Netherlands, says: “The freshwater and wastewater tanks shared a common wall which was severely worn away, with little holes. This enabled sewage including Salmonella typhi (S. typhi), the germs which triggers typhoid fever, to leakage into the freshwater which was then used as drinking water and to prepare food.”
Typhoid, which is spread by food and water infected with S. typhi, is highly infectious. When treated without delay with antibiotics, the infection is generally mild however without treatment, it can be fatal. Signs include a high temperature, headache, stomach discomfort, and irregularity or diarrhea.
On April 6, 2022, the municipal health service in Kennemerland was alerted about an ongoing break out of fever and abdominal problems on the Liberty Ann.
Typhoid fever was rapidly identified and control procedures were put in location to prevent more spread. Bottled water was offered, food preparation on the ship halted and all the asylum hunters were transferred to other accommodations.
Rust on the ships water tank. Credit: Freek Besterman
349 individuals had actually potentially been exposed to the bacterium and 72 cases of typhoid were validated by culture among asylum seekers (50/72) and personnel (20/72) between April 7 and May 24.
All cases were in adults. All of the asylum seekers, and many of the staff members, were male. All cases were in individuals who had actually been on the ship.
Twenty-five individuals were hospitalized and all recovered after treatment.
The Municipal Health Service visited the ship six times to bring out microbiological examinations and technical assessments. To identify the source of the break out and mode of transmission, all asylum seekers and staff members were asked to finish a survey about their intake of faucet water and meals on the ship. They were also asked to provide fecal and blood samples.
Frequent intake of food and faucet water on the ship was related to establishing typhoid.
Tests on S. typhi cultured from the cases blood or feces showed all samples to be genetically similar– pointing to a typical source of infection.
S. typhi was discovered in the wastewater tank and Salmonella in the freshwater tanks, which shared a seriously corroded common wall.
The studys authors conclude: “A large outbreak of typhoid fever in the Netherlands was brought on by sewage water consisting of S. typhi leaking into a freshwater tank.
” Strict supervision of water quality is essential to the health and security of those on board ships. Water tanks and associated devices must be effectively preserved and subject to regular examinations.”
Meeting: ECCMID 2023
Abstract 1241: Large break out of typhoid fever on a river cruise ship used as a shelter place for asylum hunters in the Netherlands
By European Society of Medical Microbiology and Transmittable Illness
April 1, 2023
Polluted water tanks on an old cruise ship used as emergency situation lodging in the Netherlands caused a large break out of typhoid fever in Spring 2022. The source was traced to a rusty typical wall in between the freshwater and wastewater tanks, which enabled sewage including the germs that cause typhoid fever to leak into the drinking water and food preparation facilities.
An investigation traced the source of the outbreak to a common wall between the freshwater and wastewater tanks, which had rusted and permitted sewage consisting of the bacteria that trigger typhoid fever to leak into the drinking water and food preparation facilities. Typhoid, which is spread out by food and water polluted with S. typhi, is extremely infectious. To identify the source of the break out and mode of transmission, all asylum hunters and personnel members were asked to finish a questionnaire about their usage of tap water and meals on the ship.
Polluted water tanks on an old cruise liner utilized as emergency situation lodging in the Netherlands triggered a big outbreak of typhoid fever in Spring 2022. 72 cases were verified among asylum applicants and staff, all of whom recovered after treatment. The source was traced to a corroded common wall between the freshwater and wastewater tanks, which allowed sewage consisting of the bacteria that cause typhoid fever to leak into the drinking water and cooking centers.
Polluted water tanks on an old cruise liner being utilized as emergency situation lodging in the Netherlands caused a large outbreak of typhoid fever in spring 2022, according to a report to be presented at the approaching European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & & Infectious Diseases. An examination traced the source of the break out to a typical wall between the freshwater and wastewater tanks, which had actually worn away and allowed sewage containing the germs that cause typhoid fever to leak into the drinking water and cooking centers. 72 cases were verified among asylum candidates and personnel, all of whom recovered after treatment.
A large outbreak of typhoid on a ship in the Netherlands has actually been traced to polluted water, this years European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2023, Copenhagen, 15-18 April) will hear.
Seventy-two cases of typhoid were confirmed in the spring 2022 outbreak on the Liberty Ann, an old cruise liner that was being used as emergency situation accommodation in Haarlem for asylum seekers.
