Foto von Zsolt Marton

HEALTH-RELATED WATER MICROBIOLOGY

International Water Association, Specialist Group

IWA News

Brisbane Report

The IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia), was the global event for water professionals covering the full water cycle in 2016. This report highlights the conclusions, key messages and outcomes to emerge from five days of critical discussions and debates into the future of sustainable water management.

IWA_2016_Brisbane_Report

 

Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (03): Americas (Haiti)

A total of 420 deaths due to cholera were reported in Haiti in 2016, an increase of 41 percent compared to 2015. According to data released on 29 Dec 2016 by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the disease also affected 39 000 persons [in Haiti] in 2016.

http://www.promedmail.org/post/4763806

You can find an overview of the last outbreaking news stories on the ProMED website. There you can sort them on subject, country and more.

HRWM News

HRWM SG Young Water Professionals (YWP)

Are you interested in playing a more active role as a young water professional, specifically in the IWA Health Related Water Microbiology Specialist Group? Well now is your chance. Please familiarise yourself with the rules of the game at:
http://www.iwa-network.org/young-water-professionals.php


Please email your interest and specific ideas to msteyn@csir.co.za

You will then be included in a mailing list specifically for HRWM SG YWP and you will then be contacted to form part of the forum to generate ideas towards WaterMicro 2017.

HRWM News

Call for nominations

Nominations are open to fill the following positions on the HRWM Management Committee:

  1. Secretary to serve for four years (2017 – 2021)
  2. Vice Chair – to serve for 6 consecutive years ; two years as Vice-chair, another two as Chair and finally two years as Immediate Past-Chair (2017 – 2023)

Nominations should be clearly marked and sent to Rosina: rgirones@ub.edu and Gary: gary.toranzos@upr.edu Nominations close on 20 November 2016.
Nominees will be alerted and names of nominees will be published in the March 2017 Newsletter, together with a call for votes , two months prior to WaterMicro in May 2017.

Events

WaterMicro2017

The 19th International Symposium on Health-Related Water Microbiology is organized by the International Water Society (IWA) Specialist Group on Health-Related Water Microbiology (HRWM) biennially. In 2017, the Symposium will run concurrently with the annual Water Microbiology Conference to create a forum for researchers and practitioners focused on microbiology and public health to come together around the intersection of the two. The Conference will be held in Chapel Hill, North Carolina from May 15 – 19, 2017. The Conference will blend interactive workshops with scientific symposia and poster socials, offering participants a variety of opportunities to exchange ideas, debate challenging topics and explore potential collaborations. The focus will be on water microbiology from watershed to human exposure including current concerns in recreational waters, shellfish harvesting waters, emerging technologies and quantitative tools. IWA members will be able to participate in all Water Microbiology Conference sessions as well as several exclusive to members of the IWA Specialist Group on Health-related Water Microbiology.

Abstract Submissions due: January 15, 2017
Early-bird Registration due: January 15, 2017
Side Events submission due: January 15, 2017
Willie Grabow Young Investigator Award, application due: January 10, 2017

More information, including the call for abstracts, accommodation details, and registration will be available soon!

See WaterMicro2017 for details.

Awards

Joan Rose receives Stockholm Water Price

Prof. Joan B. Rose, Ph.D. from Michigan State University was the 2016 recipient of the prestigious Stockholm Water Prize for her extended contribution to public health and water quality research. She is a true ambassador for the HRWM research field! The Stockholm Water Prize Nominating Committee said that “The nexus of water-related microbiology, water quality and public health is rife with uncertainty – in both theory and practice. The world is blessed with few individuals who can tackle the increasing and changing challenges to clean water and health, starting from state-of-the-art science through dedicated and original research, then moving to professional dissemination, effective lobbying of the legislative arena, influencing practitioners, and raising the general awareness. Joan Rose is the leading example of this extremely rare blend of talents.” She was awarded the prize by the King of Sweden at a special banquet during the Stockholm Water Week. Congratulations from the HRWM Specialist Group on this accomplishment!

Rotavirus outbreak due to contaminated water

Investigations confirmed that the recent rotavirus outbreak was due to the contaminated water at the Bukit Merah Laketown Resort water park. The Perak Health director Datuk Dr Juita Ghazalie said investigations and laboratory results concluded that the water park was the source of the outbreak and the possible exposure date was 24 Sep 2016.

http://www.promedmail.org/post/4547829

You can find an overview of the last outbreaking news stories on the ProMED website. There you can sort them on subject, country and more.

Awards

Mark Sobsey receives Clarke Prize

The National Water Research Institute (NWRI) has announced that Prof. Mark D. Sobsey, Ph.D., will be the twenty-third recipient of the NWRI Athalie Richardson Irvine Clarke Prize for excellence in water research. The 2016 NWRI Clarke Prize, consisting of a medallion and $50,000 award, will be handed over at a prestigious event held on 3 November 2016. Every year this award recognizes research accomplishments that solve real-world water problems and highlights the importance and need to continue funding this type of research. Professor Sobsey’s leadership and contributions to the fields of environmental health microbiology, virology, and water sanitation and hygiene were among the reasons cited for his selection as the 2016 recipient. Congratulations from the HRWM Specialist Group on this accomplishment!

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