Potential infectious disease problems at a large gathering:
(1) food borne disease
(2) water-borne disease
(3) communicable diseases such as gastroenteritis and respiratory infections
(4) diseases acquired from the environment
Risk factors:
(1) high number of susceptible individuals
(2) failure to identify and properly manage symptomatic individuals
(3) inadequate toilets and sewage handling
(4) inadequate provision for safe water
(5) inadequate provision for safe food storage
(6) inadequate food preparation
(7) inadequate provision for handwashing and bathing
(8) inadequate health services
(9) inadequate planning and supervision
(10) prolonged duration
(11) intoxication and promiscuous behavior
Additional factors related to environmental exposure:
(1) exposure to animals
(2) exposure to ticks, lice, mosquitoes and insects
(3) exposure to pools, lakes or other bodies of water
(4) weather (rain, cold)
(5) fungal pathogens in the environment (Coccidioides, Histoplasma, etc.)
