Foundations: This article presents the collaboration experience of the Cuban Medical Brigade in the earthquake of the Colombian Coffee Axis. Methods: A conglomerates study was carried out to establish the possible causes of an outbreak of Acute Diarrheic Illness in a refugee camp in the city of Armenian, Colombia. Thirty conglomerates were selected at random; in each of these a family which had a case of diarrhoea at the moment of study was chosen for the survey. Results: 23 people with diarrhoea were studied, 52,2% of the males and 47,8% females. 65% of them were under 5 years of age. The cases were scatered and all those interviewed referred to consume the same foods of the community kitchens. They drank potable water (Club K bags and other sources) and the water they used for cleaning and laundry, bathroom and other domestic uses was provided from the storage tanks. The water samples of the tanks and of the Club K bags sent to laboratory were positive to total coliforms. The residual chlorine of the storage tanks was 0.0. Conclusions: The results of these study show that the illness, probably, is of the invader type, acquired by a common source due to the irregularities with the quality of the water in Armenian and the water consumption in polluted bags.

Digestive transmission disease Medical cooperation Medicine of disasters Short time evaluation methods Epidemiological surveillance Earthquake

symptomatology chlorine refugee water analysis health survey coliform bacterium human acute diarrhea Aged Colombia water contamination water interview water sampling earthquake water pollution Adolescent male female clinical article prevalence Article fluid intake epidemic adult food intake water supply Water quality Child