Statistics of Waterborne Outbreaks in the U.S. (1920–1980)

Statistical data have been collected on waterborne disease outbreaks in the U.S. since 1920. ^{1 – 21} During 1920 through 1936, these data were collected and compiled by Gorman and Wolman. ^{1 , 2} In subsequent periods,* data were collected by several federal agencies, ^{3 – 21} and summaries were prepared by Eliassen and Cummings, ⁴ Weibel et al., ⁵ Craun and McCabe, ⁸ and Craun et al. ¹² The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have conducted waterborne disease investigation and surveillance activities and have published information on waterborne outbreaks annually since 1971. ^{13 – 21} All the available data on waterborne outbreaks were compiled and examined to provide a historical perspective of the epidemiology of waterborne disease over the past 61 years. ¹¹ This summary is intended to supplement the reviews and analyses of waterborne outbreaks contained in previously published articles. ^{1 , 4 , 5 , 8 , 12}