On Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:19:30 +0100, stuart noble
wrote and included this (or some of this):


Some years ago we (Path Lab) diagnosed liver fluke infestation in
about 14 patients. Turns out they had all eaten watercress from a
farm near Chepstow. Some way upstream from the farm the stream had
been contaminated by sheep's droppings from infected sheep.
As far as I remember the patients were all treated successfully but it
wasn't easy and it wasn't quick. And of course, worst of all, they
were all off alcohol for yonks.

How on earth do you go about identifying a common link? Sounds like
looking for a needle in a haystack that may not even be there.

Public Health were quickly on to it.
Looked first for common link to food possibly contaminated by sheep
liver flukes (the usual source)
Found common link to a local water cress supplier.
Found fluke eggs contaminating the crop.
Found the sheep contaminating waters upstream from the beds
Found fluke infestation in the sheep
QED. Shut down the grower.

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