Foodborne and Waterborne Disease Mitigation: Community-based Surveillance for Environmental Health
Recent research uncovered the highest rates of self-reported enteric illness (i.e., diarrhea and vomiting) reported in the world to be in Iqaluit, Nunavut, and Rigolet, Nunatsiavut. Infectious diarrhea and vomiting can be caused by contaminated drinking water (i.e., waterborne disease), contaminated food (i.e., foodborne disease), or person-to- person contact. To reduce the high rates of diarrhea and vomiting in Northern Canada, we must monitor these pathogens causing illness to understand what pathogens are responsible for illness and how people contract the illness.