Swim Diapers Do Not Cut The Crypto From Spreading In Pools And Water Parks
Swim diapers do not prevent the spread of Cryptosporidium (Crypto) in swimming pools and water parks, according to a new University of North Carolina (UNC) - Charlotte study
Researchers found swim diapers may slow the release of disease-causing germs, but the benefits are short-lived.
Crypto is spread when swimmers ingest some water that has been contaminated by diarrhea from infected people or mammals. To prevent the spread of Crypto, the UNC-Charlotte reseachers advise that people should not get in the water if they have diarrhea.
During the last couple of summers, Crypto outbreaks have closed swimming pools and water parks throughout the Midwest and West, especially in Utah, Arizona, and Texas. A common follow up to such outbreaks has been the banning of diaper-wearing, but usually permitting so-called swim diapers. According to UNC-Charlotte:
The researchers measured the amount of microspheres that released from swim diapers worn by children. The microspheres have a similar size (five microns) to that of Crypto. Normal swim trunks, common disposable diapers and reusable diapers with and without vinyl diaper covers were tested. Swimming trunks without a swim diaper of any kind had the poorest performance - almost 90 percent of the microspheres were released into the water within one minute.
Swim diapers released about 50 percent of the microspheres within one minute. A vinyl diaper cover placed over a disposable swim diaper slightly improved performance. Still, over 25 percent were released into the water within two minutes. "When a fecal accident contains about a billion disease-causing Crypto oocysts, hundreds of millions of oocysts get into the water within minutes," explains Dr. James Amburgey, the lead scientist in the study. "Swimmers only need to ingest about ten Crypto oocysts to become infected."
Crypto is a parasite that causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. More about the study and where it will be next discussed can be found here.
