11 December 2007

Increase in cryptosporidiosis cases

NSW Health Director of Communicable Diseases, Dr Jeremy McAnulty today urged people who have been sick with diarrhoea not to enter swimming pools until at least two weeks after they have completely recovered. This follows a sharp increase in cases of cryptosporidiosis across NSW in recent weeks.

"There have been 129 cases of cryptosporidiosis reported in November this year in NSW. This compares to 32 cases in October 2007 and 70 cases in November 2006. The highest rate of infections are in children under five," Dr McAnulty said.

Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrhoeal disease caused by a parasitic infection of the intestine. The most common symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes fever, nausea and vomiting.

Dr McAnulty said among the cases, a range of possible risk factors have been reported, including contact with farm animals, drinking untreated water and swimming.

"While there is no common link among most cases, in the past very large outbreaks in NSW have been caused by people swimming in contaminated pools. Pools can easily be contaminated by infectious swimmers and so it is vital that people take care not to contaminate pools," he said.
There is no specific treatment for the condition and symptoms may last a few weeks in some people.
To keep our pools free from contamination, it is vital that people:

• Do not swim in a pool or spa until at least two weeks after they have completely recovered from a diarrhoeal illness.

To avoid getting infected with the parasite:

• Always wash your hands thoroughly for 10 seconds with soap and running water after using the toilet, changing nappies, or handling animals;
• Avoid swallowing or putting pool water in your mouth; and
• Don't drink untreated water, e.g. when camping or bush walking, boiling water for one minute will kill these parasites.

Dr McAnulty recommends parents do the following things to avoid pool contamination:

• Take their child on bathroom breaks often rather than waiting to hear they 'have to go' as it may be too late;
• Children who are not toilet-trained should wear waterproof tight-fitting pants over swimmers;
• Change nappies in a bathroom and not at the poolside as germs can spread to surfaces or objects in and around the pool and spread illness;
• Wash their child thoroughly (especially on the bottom) with soap and water before going swimming; and
• Wash their hands with soap and water after changing a child's nappy.
  

"I urge public pool operators to adhere to the NSW Health guidelines, Protocol for minimising the risk of cryptosporidium in public swimming pools and spa pools," he said.

For resources and further information, pool operators should go to
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/ehb/general/pools/publicpools.html

Dr McAnulty said the outbreak of cryptosporidiosis linked to pools have occurred several times in NSW. The biggest recognised outbreak was in 1998, when more than 1,000 cases were confirmed.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au