Stopping the Outbreak!….A Sanitarian’s Guide to Marathon, Triathlon and Endurance Race Events (50m Lecture)

Adventure and endurance events are a rapidly growing recreational activity in the United States. In 2012, an estimated 2 million people finished an adventure race (mud/obstacle/color run), another 1.7 million people ran/swam/biked in over 3,040 triathlons and 487,000 people crossed a marathon finish line. Despite their rising popularity and a number of outbreaks being associated with these events, they remain largely under-the-radar from our environmental health agencies. When outbreaks have occurred, the transitory nature of the events has posed unique obstacles to investigators.

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Attendees at this session will learn about (1) the unique environmental factors and water/food/sewage infrastructure components commonly associated with endurance events; (2) how these factors and components can breakdown and conspire to create opportunities for outbreaks and (3) obtain tips/ideas for how environmental health professionals can proactively work with race organizers to integrate safe practices and proper hygiene into event organization planning efforts. Using an outbreak at the 2011 Las Vegas Marathon as a guide, the attendee will gain insight into the challenges and obstacles associated with endurance event outbreak investigation.