Rotaviruses are the major etiologic agents of acute gastroenteritis. They lead to severe diseases in infants and young children worldwide. While, rotaviruses are responsible from the important part of high gastroenteritis morbidity, it is also associated with high mortality in developing countries. In this study, rotavirus epidemic, developed due to contamination of the urban water pipes line in November and December in 2005 in Malatya, was investigated. The aim of this study is to retrospectively investigate the features of the cases and dimensions of the epidemic according to the principles of epidemic investigation.
The data obtained with active surveillance from 2274 patients applied with gastroenteritis to 18 health centers and 2 public hospitals during December were investigated. Within a two months period, 9907 cases in all age groups applied to health stations due to diarrhea in Malatya city center. According to age groups and gender, the distribution of the cases included in the study was not statistically significant.The epidemic reached its peak on the 28th of November. Rota virus antigen was detected with the latex agglutination test in approximately half of the stool specimens obtained from the patients applied to public and university hospitals.
In conclusion, a big epidemic occurred due to drinking water contaminations caused by works of infrastructure of the main streets and often interruptions of urban water cycle lines. The epidemic spread extensively in the beginning due to the decline of pollutions of drinking water pipe lines in the city center by the top of authorities of Malatya Municipality. The epidemic was prevented with big efforts and good collaboration between Departments of Public Health of Medical Faculty and Health Directorate of Malatya Province.
Key words: Diarrhea Epidemic, Rotavirus, Malatya, 2005
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