What event is notably recognized for the large number of infections due to Cryptosporidium?

The Milwaukee outbreak is famously recognized for the significant number of infections caused by Cryptosporidium, a waterborne parasite. In 1993, there was a widespread outbreak of Cryptosporidiosis in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which affected approximately 400,000 individuals. This incident remains one of the largest recorded waterborne disease outbreaks in U.S. history and had a profound impact on public health policies and water treatment practices.

The outbreak was traced back to the city's drinking water supply, which had been contaminated with the parasite through a combination of heavy rainfall and runoff, leading to a failure in the water treatment process. The Milwaukee episode underscored the vulnerability of water systems to contamination and highlighted the importance of robust water quality monitoring and treatment techniques to prevent similar events in the future.