OUTBREAK OF SEVERS GASTROENTERITIS IN ADULTS AND CHILDREN ASSOCIATED WITH TYPE G3 ROTAVIRUS

An outbreak of severe gastroenteritis affecting 132 adults and childre n occurred in the small city of Mirassol, Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1992, The outbreak of diarrhoeal disease had an abrupt onset and afflicted a ll age segments of the population, Group A rotavirus was the only path ogen associated with the epidemic. It was detected in 12 of the 27 (44 %) stool specimens analyzed and was identified as serotype G2 rotaviru s, Severe dehydration was common among adults and older children, and 35% of all the notified cases were hospitalized for parenteral rehydra tion, Contamination of the main water supply was the most likely sourc e.