[USCC] Open composting and disease vectors

[Tim Evans]

But I don't think the article proved composting materials as being a source
when the flies picked up their Campylobacter - or even mentioned composting
materials for that matter.  Of course, flies do like bins of food waste. 

regards

Tim


-----Original Message-----
From: Edo McGowan [mailto:edomcgowan at earthlink.net] 
Sent: 18 August 2006 20:16
To: compost at composter.com
Subject: [USCC] Open composting and disease vectors

The following may be of interest to those of you in the composting industry
and may more specifically relate to open compost operations that are near or
up-wind from urban areas. The case in mind is the open compost operation
that was established and then later shut down by court order in Adalanto,
California. The issues included uncontrolled flies. With a good wind, flies
can travel for miles.

A new study which appeared in the New Zealand Medical Journal cited finding
that flies act as serious as mechanical vectors of transmitted disease
(nothing really new here). This discussion included disease attributable to
the high levels of campylobacter transmission via flies and disease rates in
New Zealand, including the high rate of campylobacteriosis (up to 14,000
reported cases annually). Laboratory scientist Ben Harris, who co-wrote the
paper with research consultant Warrick Nelson, indicated that the occurrence
of the illness was between 10 and 20 times higher than that reported because
most people did nott report food poisoning. Thus the numbers might be
between 140,000 to 280,000 cases---not an insignificant number 

The bacteria is transferred through fly fecal deposits on common surfaces
such as hand rails and door handles. Campylobacter deposited on fingertips
can survive for at least an hour, and have been recovered from dry surfaces
24 hours after being deposited. 

The issue of dust travel is also important here. Dust from these open
operations have been linked to illnesses. Further, dust coats surfaces of
homes and offices. Gerba and Rusin have published on the transmission of
pathogens via finger to mouth. Gerba, unpublished work, also notes that
contamination can be spread through the house by human contact with objects.

 
Cheers---------------Edo