Cryptosporidium Lawyer & Attorney : Marler Clark : Cryptosporidium Blog

 Folks  in cold climates this time of year start thinking about places where its summer now.   You are probably not thinking about the bad things that can happen when temperatures warm up.   Australia's Victoria, for example, is right now suffering from  a cryptosporidium outbreak that is being blamed on the increase use of public swimming pools that comes with hot weather.  

The Herald Sun reports that:

In December there were 106 confirmed cases of gastro caused by the cryptosporidium parasite -- three times more than the December average of just 34 cases.

The parasite causes symptoms such as diarrhoea, stomach cramps and vomiting.

As hot weather drives Victorians to pools, chief health officer John Carnie warned those with symptoms to stay out of the water.

"The cryptosporidium parasite cannot be killed by normal levels of chlorination, so we are urging people who have had diarrhoea not to go into a swimming pool for at least 14 days after symptoms have ceased," Dr Carnie said.

The Herald Sun's complete report can be found here.

 cryptosporidium

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Almost five years ago, there was an outbreak of Crptosporidium in a public pool in suburban Glasgow that made 30 swimmers sick.   Only now are officials about to pay up, according to the Evening Times. Scotland's  Jonathan Paisley reports that:

LEISURE chiefs face a £100,000 compensation bill after admitting full responsibility for a cryptosporidium outbreak in a public swimming pool.

Bosses of Eastwood Pool, in Giffnock, have accepted a damning NHS Greater Glasgow report into maintenance levels at the centre, describing the findings as "accurate".

Five families are suing the council after almost 30 swimmers fell ill with the stomach bug in August 2003. They had to wait more than four years for a health inspectors' report into the outbreak, which was released at Christmas.

Now council officials have revealed they won't challenge the findings - further boosting hopes of compensation for those affected.

For Paisley's complete story, go here.

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The United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection moved against Baby's Bliss apple flavor gripe water last September. 

On 9/21, FDA said:

FDA is warning consumers not to consume Baby's Bliss Gripe Water, apple flavor, with a code of 26952V and expiration date of October 2008 (shown as '10/08' on the label). The product is distributed by MOM Enterprises, Inc., of San Rafael , Calif.

FDA confirmed through laboratory analysis the presence of cryptosporidium after investigating the illness of a 6-week-old infant in Minnesota who consumed the product. Cryptosporidium is a parasite that can cause intestinal infections. MOM Enterprises, Inc. is fully cooperating with FDA's investigation and is recalling all potentially contaminated products.

Parents of children who have recently consumed Baby's Bliss Gripe Water, apple flavor, and have symptoms should seek immediate medical attention. Parents and caregivers should be alert for diarrhea and other signs of Cryptosporidium infection.

Three days later on 9/24, the State of Connecticut added this:

The Department of Consumer Protection has removed a product from three stores where it was sold, following a voluntary recall by the manufacturer and a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning consumers not to drink or serve the beverage.

The product is Baby's Bliss Gripe Water, apple flavor, with a code of 26952V and expiration date of October 2008 (shown as "10/08" on the label), distributed by MOM Enterprises, Inc., of San Rafael, Calif. The FDA confirmed through laboratory analysis the presence of cryptosporidium after investigating the illness of a 6-week-old infant in Minnesota who consumed the product. Cryptosporidium is a parasite that can cause intestinal infections.

"We have identified three stores in the state that have sold this beverage, and we have made sure that the product has been removed from sale," Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr. said. "Consumers who have this item at home should be sure it is not coded and dated as described in the FDA warning. If it is, please do not use the beverage, but discard it immediately."

The three stores known to have carried Baby's Bliss Gripe Water are:

• Over the Moon, Avon
• Bissell Pharmacy, Ridgefield
• Starlight Baby, Southbury

All of the above stores have been contacted by Consumer Protection and are aware of the recall.

The action Health Canada has taken against Baby's Bliss in the last few days, however, makes one wonder: What happens to recalled products anyway?

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A product for ill children is found to carry the dangerous parasite cryptosporidium and Health Canada is warning parents about it.   Where does the product come from?  China?  Nope.

How about California?  Yep and the product is natural too.  Nothing more natural than a good 'Ole parasite sharing the planet with us.    Anyway,  here's what Becky Rynor at the CanWest News Service reported over the weekend:

Health Canada is telling parents not to use two natural products for treating upset stomachs in infants and children because of potential bacterial contamination.

Baby's Bliss Gripe Water, apple flavor, 26952V, is a natural health product given to babies to "ease stomach discomfort and gas often associated with colic, hiccups and teething," Health Canada said in an alert to consumers.

The product is distributed by MOM Enterprises, Inc. in California and is sold in a 118.26 milliliters plastic bottle in a cardboard carton. The label reads: Baby's Bliss Pediatrician Recommended Gripe Water Apple Flavor.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration found the product contains the parasite cryptosporidium which can infect the gastrointestinal tract. "Infections due to cryptosporidium may cause watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, vomiting and, in some cases, death," Health Canada said.

The other product does have a China connection.   Its Zhong Ti Xiao Er Jian Pi San, batch number JPS0704, manufactured by MOH Pharmaceutical Technologies in Malaysia and distributed through Singapore by Chung Kuo Refined Chinese Medicine Dealers Ltd.

Health Canada said this is a also a natural health product used to treat upset stomachs and digestive problems in children. It comes in powder form in a 20 gram pack.

Neither product can be legally sold in Canada, but Health Canada says parents might get it on the Internet or by traveling to the United States.   It looks like Bliss built its business on the Internet, but its now advertising that its products are "now available at Walgreen's."

We'll be checking to seeing if our parasite-finding FDA is doing anything on this side of the border.

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Utah health officials like Lewis Garrett who want to ban diaper-wearing tots from pools now have the backing of the editorial page at the Salt Lake Tribune.   The editorial writers really got into the subject:

"Don't take this the wrong way. We love babies. Lov'em, lov'em, lov'em. And we don't want to spoil their fun. But until Mommy and Daddy teach them to go potty, their dirty little bottoms should be banned from public swimming pools. 

"Kids in diapers can turn swimming pools into cesspools. And it's more than just gross. Babies and toddlers in water, while a source of boundless joy and lots of laughs for parents and siblings, are also the cause of countless cases of cryptosporidiosis, a disease named for a nasty little parasite that lives in feces. Humans generally ingest the parasite while swimming in contaminated lakes and streams, then pass it along when they visit a public pool.

"Last summer, Utah experienced a serious outbreak of the disease, which causes severe diarrhea. Public health officials said 88 percent of the cases were linked to recreational swimming. Babies and toddlers in swim diapers - those colorful pseudo-suits that claim to be leak proof but aren't - rightly bore the brunt of the blame.

"Nobody died, but thousands of residents spent a lot of time on the toilet, and dozens were hospitalized. State health officials logged 1,963 crypto cases in 2007, up from 14 in an average year. And, because studies show that most cases go undiagnosed and unreported, the outbreak was probably even worse. "

Tribune editorial writers noted that the Centers for Disease Control have warned that crypto will be back next summer and that the Utah Health Board is getting ready with the diaper ban.

The Tribune lets its readers comment on line and many did so and most were supportive.  Some are wondering, however, if health officials are  looking the right place.

Two examples:

  I personally wonder if the real cause might not be found in the chemical suppliers for the pool industry. I doubt the pool staffs were doing anything different in how they treated the pools. Mothers certainly weren't doing anything different, yet suddenly crypto cases skyrocket? IMO a more likely cause is the chemical suppliers decided to reformulate to save money, but didn't bother to tell anyone else. --dwildren

I find it interesting that most of the time, poop is found in the area where the bigger (toilet trained) kids are playing. I've taken lots of babies to the pool and never had them #2 in their swim diapers. I think it's bigger kids who don't want to leave the fun and head to the toilet. That being said, I have no problem with the ban if it might help. At least it could rule out one possibility. Personally, I plan on saving for a pool in my backyard. - sofia

At this point, we'd bet the diapers are going down in Utah.  We'll watch to see  if there is a  counteroffensive.

   

 

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