They've Got A Cryptosporidium Outbreak Down Under
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.
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