Text equivalent - Source Attribution

Figure 1

This graphic illustrates the flow of pathogens responsible for acute gastrointestinal illness. The pathogens are generated by a variety of reservoirs, including animal groups on the left and infected humans on the right. Pathogens may be transmitted from food animal reservoirs to the food actually ingested along the food chain (orange arrow – Food). They may also spread from the animal reservoirs to raw waters. These contaminated waters may infect human beings through drinking water, in the case of insufficient treatment, or directly when there is contact and accidental ingestion of the raw water (blue arrow – Water). In addition, raw water that is contaminated may spread the pathogens to animal and vegetable production. People may get infected when they are in contact with animals or their environment. Finally, infected people may transmit the pathogens to other humans (pink arrow), to food (grey arrow) or to raw water (black arrow).

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Figure 2

Experts acknowledge that eight methodological approaches are relevant to source attribution. These approaches are shown as pieces of a puzzle to convey the idea that they generate source attribution results that are more complementary than comparable. The missing piece in the middle represents the method, still to be developed, that will bring all the results together in a coherent view of source attribution estimates.

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