WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) - The Marathon County health department is investigating an outbreak of cryptosporidium (krip-toh-spor-RID'-ium).
The disease is a single-celled parasite that causes watery diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
So far eight people have been sickened since August 6th.
Health officials say the outbreak may be traced to an outdoor pool at the Rothschild-Schofield aquatic center. The pool has been closed for the season.
GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) - Eighteen cases of cryptosporidium linked to two pools have been documented in Gillette since mid-July.
A few other cases have originated at Keyhole Reservoir in Crook County.
Kelly Weidenbach, a state surveillance epidemiologist, says it's difficult to say whether the parasite source is the Gillette city pool or the Campbell County pool.
She says many people afflicted with the diarrhea-causing parasite had swum at both pools this summer.
The number of people reporting cases of severe diarrhea continues to rise, and exposure will likely not decline until people who are sick - or who have recently been sick - avoid pools and recreational waters, the Utah Department of Health warns.
To date, more than 150 cases of cryptosporidium - a parasite that is chlorine resistant at normal levels used in pools and can be difficult to eliminate - have been reported to the Davis County, Salt Lake Valley, Utah County and Weber/Morgan health departments.
Of particular concern are individuals with compromised immune systems, such as those with HIV or AIDS, cancer, those who have recently had an organ transplant and are taking certain immunosuppressive drugs, and those with inherited diseases that affect the immune system.
GARNER — The Garner Aquatic Center will close for the season effective immediately due to a recent outbreak of the cryptosporidium parasite.
On August 17, the city of Garner was notified that at least one person with cryptosporidiosis was known to have recently visited the Aquatic Center and that the pool would have to close for the day to super-chlorinate the water. Due to the pervasiveness of the cryptosporidium parasite at this time and the limited number of days remaining in the season, city leaders have opted to close the center for the rest of the season.
FARMINGTON — Davis County health officials are asking that people abide by good hygiene practices as they make use of area pools.
Over the past few weeks, there have been six cases of the parasite cryptosporidium reported in area pools, causing gastrointestinal illnesses, like diarrhea.
As of late last week, the Salt Lake Valley Health Department had seen 24 cases and in Utah County, health officials had seen 46 cases. Typically, a county sees only three cases, according to the Utah Department of Health, and the last time there was a case reported in Davis County was 2004. when there was one, although Brian Hatch, the county’s epidemiologist, said there was one year prior to 2004, when there were 20 cases.
Several cases of illnesses associated with swimming and other recreational water activities in lakes have been reported to the North Dakota Department of Health.
Several kinds of germs that cause diarrhea are naturally found in lakes and rivers. For example, cryptosporidium is a parasite that finds its way into water when excreted in feces of people and many species of animals, including cattle, sheep, rodents, cats, dogs and birds. Humans become infected by swallowing water contaminated with the parasite.
"Unfortunately, people don't often realize that lakes and rivers can contain germs that may make them sick," Goplin said. "It's very important that people don't swallow the water when swimming or water skiing."
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