Giardiasis, 2017

During 2017, 643 cases of Giardia infection (11.7 per 100,000) were reported. This represents a 4% decrease from the median number of cases reported annually from 2007 through 2016 (median, 667 cases; range, 620 to 904). Recent immigrants and refugees accounted for 28% of all cases. An additional 15% of cases reported international travel in the 3 weeks prior to illness onset. Excluding recent immigrants and refugees, the median age of cases was 39 years (range, 7 months to 95 years). Sixteen percent were <10 years of age, and 36% were >50 years of age. Sixty percent of non-immigrant and refugee cases were male. Giardia infections showed a summer/fall seasonality; 46% of non-immigrant and refugee cases occurred during July through October. Forty-two (7%) cases required hospitalization, for a median of 4 days (range, 1 to 56 days). Two outbreaks were identified that accounted for 3 laboratory-confirmed cases. One was an outbreak associated with person- to-person transmission at a child care center, and the other was an outbreak probably associated with consumption of surface water along a Lake Superior hiking trail.

• For up to date information see>> Giardiasis (Giardia)
• Full issue>> Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2017