Palm Island mystery disease

[1] Associated in many cases with dehydration and bloody diarrhoea, 148 people (138 children and 10 adults) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent were affected.

[2] The cause of the outbreak was determined to be the addition of excessive doses of copper sulfate to the water supply of Solomon Dam, which had been added to target a cyanobacteria bloom of Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii.

The excessive dosing was following the use of least-cost contractors to control the algae, who were unqualified in the field.

[6][7][8] Symptoms of hepatoenteritis included diarrhoea, vomiting attacks, loss of balance and disorientation.

In 1996 there were 63 deaths attributed to drinking water contamination in Caruaru, Brazil.