Mississippi State Department of Health

Waterborne Illnesses

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Waterborne illnesses are caused by water that is contaminated by germs such as viruses, bacteria or parasites.

Sources of Waterborne Infection

Contaminated water can be found in a wide variety of water sources that people encounter:

How You Can Be Infected

People and animals can become infected by:

  • Swallowing contaminated water.
  • Consuming food that has come into contact with contaminated water.
  • Inhaling droplets of contaminated water in the air (aerosolized water).
  • Skin contact with contaminated water, especially if your have a sore or wound.

Symptoms

Diarrhea and vomiting are the most commonly reported symptoms of waterborne illness. Symptoms can also include wound infections and eye, ear, and respiratory problems.

Types of Waterborne Illnesses

Learn More

Boil-Water Advisories



Links referenced on this page
Cryptosporidium    https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/crypto/
Giardia    https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/giardia/
Shigella    https://www.cdc.gov/shigella/index.html
Norovirus    https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/index.html
Otitis Externa (Swimmer’s Ear)    https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/swimmers/rwi/ear-infections.html
Legionella    https://www.cdc.gov/legionella/index.html
Vibrio    http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/14,0,345,html ok
Disinfecting private wells    http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/30,1937,76,762,html ok
Water safety after a flood    http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/44,402,122,292,html ok
Preventing Waterborne Germs at Home    https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/preventing-waterborne-germs-at-home.html
Visiting Oceans, Lakes, and Rivers    https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/oceans-lakes-rivers/visiting-oceans-lakes-rivers.html
Healthy Swimming    https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/index.html
Avoid Contaminated Water During Travel    https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/water-disinfection
Current boil-water notices reported to MSDH    http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/23,0,148,html ok
General boil-water advisory information    https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/drinking/drinking-water-advisories/boil-water-advisory.html

Find this page at https://msdh.ms.gov/page/14,0,441.html

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