Podcast - Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal - February 20, 2026

[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]

Podcast

Campylobacteriosis Outbreak Linked to Municipal Water, Nebraska, USA, 2021

Download the PDF of the podcast transcript (163KB)

Dr. Lauren Jansen, an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, and Brianna Loeck, and epidemiologist with the state of Nebraska, discuss an outbreak of campylobacteriosis that occurred in Nebraska in 2021.

Running time = 18:01

Read the associated article in the October 2024 issue of the EID Journal Campylobacteriosis Outbreak Linked to Municipal Water, Nebraska, USA, 2021 — L. Jansen et al.

Article Abstract In September 2021, eight campylobacteriosis cases were identified in a town in Nebraska, USA. We assessed potential exposures for a case–control analysis. We conducted whole-genome sequencing on Campylobacter isolates from patients’ stool specimens. We collected large-volume dead-end ultrafiltration water samples for Campylobacter and microbial source tracking testing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We identified 64 cases in 2 waves of illnesses. Untreated municipal tap water consumption was strongly associated with illness (wave 1 odds ratio 15.36; wave 2 odds ratio 16.11). Whole-genome sequencing of 12 isolates identified 2 distinct Campylobacter jejuni subtypes (1 subtype/wave). The town began water chlorination, after which water testing detected coliforms. One dead-end ultrafiltration sample yielded nonculturable Campylobacter and avian-specific fecal rRNA genomic material. Our investigation implicated contaminated, untreated, municipal water as the source. Results of microbial source tracking supported mitigation with continued water chlorination. No further campylobacteriosis cases attributable to water were reported.

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