Cryptosporidium Blog

Ultraviolet Water Treatment Emerges As Way To Fight Cryptosporidium

marler@marlerclark.com (Cryptosporidium Lawyer) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:47:27 -0800

New York has a new water safety regulation. It’s found in Section 6-3.11 and says: “Ultraviolet light disinfection is required in addition to approved Chemical disinfectant.”

A company in Northwest England ---atg UV Technology—tells how that new NY regulation came about:

Following major outbreaks in Northampton, Galway, Utah and New York, Cryptosporidium has become a major concern for the leisure industry. Commonly found in lakes and rivers, waterborne pathogen Cryptosporidium, has a thick outer shell, making it highly resistant to traditional methods of chemical disinfection such as chlorine, vastly increasing the risk of infection and illness, that can often prove fatal in the young, elderly and the immunocompromised.

Due to the resistant nature of Cryptosporidium and the scale of health problems caused, the need for increased protection is now at the top of the agenda. With traditional methods failing to provide adequate protection, atg UVs' range of technologically advanced water treatment systems are the obvious choice for water treatment engineers committed to resolving this threat.

So large was the scale of the problem in New York, approximately 4,000 patrons of an aquatic facility became infected with Cryptosporidium and consequently took out legal action. The New York Department of Health was forced to re-think their entire water treatment strategy. Calling upon their experience in the drinking water industry to find a solution to the growing threat, they concluded that the risk of an outbreak could be greatly reduced by the use of “Ultraviolet treatment systems.”

Working closely with atg UV, the New York Department of Health invested in a range of state-of-the-art UV treatment systems to safeguard public health. Additionally, atg UV biodose tested a number of UV systems, gaining regulatory approval for their effectiveness against Cryptosporidium and other waterborne pathogens. Ultimately the inclusion of UV treatment systems is now firmly entrenched within New York’s water safety legislation for a range of leisure facilities.

And that's how UV treatment came to America!

Heritage Park Fountain Shutting Down Twice Daily, But Does Anyone Tell Swimmers Not To Poop In The Water?

marler@marlerclark.com (Cryptosporidium Lawyer) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:04:24 -0800

In an editorial that went along way toward explaining to the public what's really going on at Olympia, Washington's Heritage Park Fountain, the Daily Olympian still fell too short of providing the public with a real education about the dangers of "swimming" in such facilities.

Here's the crux of what the Olympian said:

"No one ever thought that the fountain, made with green granite from New York, would accommodate up to 300 youngsters at a time.

And those youngsters bring an assortment of dirt, grime and other grit with them when they splash in the water.

City workers cannot use chlorine to disinfect the water because it would corrode the brass piping of the fountain. Instead they use bromine, which kills germs and bacteria just like chlorine, but does not harm the piping.

But the quality of water, which recirculates through an underground, 5,000-gallon tank, deteriorates quickly. The sun evaporates the bromine, which is also broken down by sunscreen and carried off on the bodies of the bathers. That’s why the fountain must be shut down during the hottest part of the day to recharge bromine levels.

“Why not shut it down in the middle of the night?” ask critics.

Simple answer. In the middle of the night no one is using the fountain, the sun is not evaporating the bromine and the levels of disinfectant stay constant, actually building as the water recirculates."

Washington's Capitol City newspaper then goes into a lot of history of the 47 nozzle pools with jets shooting 40 into there air. No where do they provide the information they should have told swimmers and parents of toddlers who do. From the Centers on Disease Control and Prevention, we will fill in that huge gap:

Three Steps for All Swimmers

Keep germs from causing recreational water illnesses (RWIs)

Please don't swim when you have diarrhea. You can spread germs in the water and make other people sick.
Please don't swallow the pool water. Avoid getting water in your mouth.
Please practice good hygiene. Shower with soap before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers. Germs on your body end up in the water.

Three Steps for Parents of Young Kids

Keep germs out of the pool:

Please take your kids on bathroom breaks or check diapers often. Waiting to hear "I have to go" may mean that it's too late.
Please change diapers in a bathroom or a diaper-changing area and not at poolside. Germs can spread in and around the pool.
Please wash your child thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before they go swimming. Invisible amounts of fecal matter can end up in the pool.

Next time, Olympian, just tell people not to poop in the fountain nor let their toddlers do so!

"Diapered children frequently sat on top of splash features"---MMWR Gets To The Bottom Of 2007 Crypto Outbreak In Meridian, Idaho .

marler@marlerclark.com (Cryptosporidium Attorney) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:18:55 -0800

The 2007 closure of the splash park in Meridian, Idaho's popular Settler's Park after the chlorine-resistant parasite Cryptosporidium began making people sick gets an autopsy in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) for June 12, 2009.

MMWR, published by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), say Meridian "reopened the splash park in 2008 after installation of an ultraviolet treatment system, improvement of hygiene facilities, hiring of attendants to monitor for nonhygienic behaviors by visitors, and posting of educational signs instructing visitors not to drink the splash-feature water."

Health officials first learned of the problem at the Idaho splash poark when they learned of the complaints of "several ill persons with watery diarrhea consistent with cryptosporidiosis after attendance at a municipal splash park on July 26."

MMWR reports that: "The initial investigation by CDHD and IDHW began on August 7 with interviews of 20 persons who attended a party at the splash park on July 26. Among those 20 persons, 12 reported gastrointestinal illness that began August 1--6 (6--11 days after exposure), including eight persons who reported watery diarrhea. All 12 ill persons reported exposure to splash-feature water, and six reported exposure to water from a nearby drinking fountain. No food items at the party were implicated as the source of the outbreak. Investigators hypothesized that swallowing contaminated splash park water was the source of illness."

Additional investigation found that while there were no deaths nor over-night hospital stays, at least 45 people were ill from the crypto. As to the cause: "During an initial site inspection, young children were observed to be the predominant users of the splash park, and diapered children frequently sat on top of splash features. Soap was not available in nearby restrooms, nor were showers. Public health education signs were not posted at the park. The splash park did not have any standing water; investigators noted that water drained from a concrete deck, passed through a high-flow sand filter, and was chlorinated before recirculation through several splash features."

See the complete report in MMWR.

Colorado City Keeps Water Off Until It Can Comply With Swimming Pool Regulations At New Public Fountain

marler@marlerclark.com (Cryptosporidium Attorney) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:15:36 -0800

The City of Arvada, the 100,000 plus suburb that fills in much of the space between Denver and Boulder counties in Colorado, boasts an "Olde Town" dating back to 1870. Its been the subject of an intense urban renewal focus in recent years that has brought office, retail, and housing investment to the area.

The Olde Town Plaza includes a new water fountain in a space adjacent to a new Jefferson County Public Library. On its website, the city recently announced that fountain "will remain off until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience."

However, in the letter to Olde Town's merchants, the city explained the situation. "Public health officials have increased standards for "interactive fountains," which unfortunately, the Old Town fountain does not meet." The letter said that with a holding tank of only 1,500 gallons and the extensive human contact with the fountain, it "has become a de facto swimming pool" with risk to public health and safety. Risk from E. coli and Cryptosporidium were specifically mentioned as "potentially fatal" water borne diseases that concern the city.

In the letter, Arvada said other Colorado cities were having similar concerns for their water features.

Arvada is estimating it might cost $700,000 to add a proper filtration system, showers and rest rooms to the outdoor public space. The Colorado Department of Health regulations Arvada is applying can be found here.

It is worth noting, the regulations are not new, but there application is. It is just another example of how health department in the West are looking for ways to fight Crypto before it again overcomes them.

Swimming Pools Are Being Closed Once A Week In Name of Water Quality And Fighting Cryptosporidium

marler@marlerclark.com (Cryptosporidium Attorney) — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:12:02 -0800

Last season's cryptosporidium outbreak across North Texas means there are going to be some changes at the local swimming pool this summer.

Like its bigger city neighbors of Dallas and Fort Worth, the City of Arlington, TX is going to fight cryptosporidium with a rotating one day a week closure of its swimming pools during the 2009 season.

The Arlington Star Telegram reports that:

Starting June 6, all six of Arlington’s outdoor pools and water parks will be closed one day a week for maintenance and cleaning. On any given day from Monday through Wednesday, only four pools will be open. But all will be open Thursday through Sunday, the peak swimming days.

The new schedule aims to improve water quality, provide time off for employees and save the city money on operating expenses, Parks Assistant Director Bill Gilmore said.

"All pools need a chance to refresh themselves," he said. "We don’t believe anybody will suffer, because there are other options."

Also In response to the Cryptosporidium outbreak last summer, the Texas city is installing signs at its public water parks and pools urging people not to swim if they have diarrhea. Crypto is a chlorine-resistant parasite that, if ingested, can cause stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea and fever for up to two weeks. It is found in feces and is usually spread through water.

A few more details can be found here.

Parasites In Pennsylvania: Can Summer Be Far Behind?

marler@marlerclark.com (Cryptosporidium Lawyer) — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:58:55 -0800

Officals in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania have anounced that 3 individuals have beenconfirmed with cryptosporidium. While public swimming pools are common source of

cryptosporidium outbreaks, there is reportedly no evidence of such a connection here. None of the ill individuals had public pool exposures. Officials are still investigating to possible source of the cluster of illnesses.

Symptoms of cryptosporidium generally occur 2 to 10 days after exposure. Symptoms include abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, and dehydration. The symptoms usually last 1 to 2 weeks, although they may last up to 4 weeks. Persons with compromised immune system are at risk for more severe complications.

Swim Diapers Do Not Cut The Crypto From Spreading In Pools And Water Parks

marler@marlerclark.com (Cryptosporidium Lawyer) — Tue, 12 May 2009 09:24:48 -0800

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.

New Cryptosporidium-Fighting Treatment Plant Comes To Joplin, MO

marler@marlerclark.com (Cryptosporidium Lawyer) — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:33:49 -0800

Joplin, MO just got itself a twofer. A new water treatment facility will add an extra five million gallons of clean water a day for economic development AND it will inactivate the cryptosporidium bacteria with ultra violet light.

Joplin celebrated the new water treatment plant Thursday with a ribbon cutting. Joplin's water is provided by St. Louis-based Missouri American Water, which provides utility services in 19 states and has invested $1.5 billion in new facilities in the past three years.

Christie Barnhart of Missouri American Water says this plant is also using new ultaviolet light technology.

"Specifically, the ultra violet light is the only form of treatment that inactivates a bacteria known as cryptosporidium and the use of UV treatment for surface water plants is an upcoming EPA regulation," says Barnhart. "So this is something that definitely does enhance water quality."

The new facility also improves Joplin's disinfection and filter systems. The community decided to hold the ribbon cutting now in honor of National Drinking Water Week. Joplin is located in southwest Missouri, not far from the borders of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

Mayor of Virginia Town Finds Himself "Doing A Little Side-step" As Crypto Brings "Boil Water" Order

marler@marlerclark.com (Cryptosporidium Lawyer) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:18:57 -0800

The town well in Buchanan, VA is at risk due to Cryptosporidium, which is not killed by the chlorination process.

So the town is living with a "boil water" order and city council meetings are getting mean. And instead of talking about the Crypto in the water , Mayor Tom Middlecamp is talking up what's not in the water.

The mayor told residents that tests from April 7th indicate the town's RAW water has no traces of e.coli or total coliform.

Middlecamp said he had met with county leaders looking for a solution.

"I don't have any specifics to tell you right now because I don't know specifics, but as soon as I know. You'll be the first to know," says Middlecamp.

Buchanan is a town of 1,200 in Botetourt County located northeast of Roanoke. After the "boil water" order was issued, 300 town angry residents turned out for the April 2nd city council meeting, and Buchanan has been in a mini uproar ever since.

The Roanoke Times has a story about it here.

Down-Under University Researchers Find One Person Could Be Responsible For Sydney's Big Crypto Outbreak

marler@marlerclark.com (Cryptosporidium Attorney) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:37:59 -0800

Sydney, Australia is undergoing an outbreak of Cryptosporidium that in a little more than a month has made 628 people sick. All of last year, the water rich city saw only 482 cases of Crypto.

And now the Star newspaper is reporting that the Sydney's entire cryptosporidium outbreak may be linked to a single infected person.

The latest genetic testing means it is unlikely that an infected animal or environmental conditions like the weather are to blame.

According to the Star, Macquarie University researchers say their testing is experimental, and unlikely to identify the origin of the current outbreak, but they hope their work will lead to the development of a world-leading, inexpensive automated test to quickly identify parasite strains involved in future outbreaks, allowing sources to be rapidly traced and infections contained.

Michelle Power, of Macquarie's biological sciences department, told the Star cryptosporidium outbreaks were difficult to trace using existing technology.

For more on what they are finding out down-under, the rest of the Star story can be found here.

Portland, Yes Portland, Says George Bush Went Too Far On Water Quality

marler@marlerclark.com (Cryptosporidium Attorney) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 13:19:26 -0800

We always go for a "man bites dog" story.

Consider this: President George W. Bush's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2006 issued a STRONGER rule involving water quality for municipal water systems. Now, the Portland City Council, which usually can be found a couple of clicks left of Hanoi on the dial, is fighting for a WEAKER standard.

At issue is what the rule-makers call the LT2. The Portland Water Bureau explains it thusly:

According to the EPA, "The purpose of the LT2 rule is to reduce illness linked with the contaminant Cryptosporidium and other disease-causing microorganisms in drinking water." Cryptosporidium is a micro-organism (protozoan) naturally present in bodies of surface water throughout the world. Surface water supplies are particularly vulnerable if, unlike the city's Bull Run supply, they regularly receive runoff or pollution from human or animal wastes.

Compliance with the LT2 rule would have impacts on two separate parts of Portland's water system. First, the rule requires the city to provide additional treatment to its Bull Run supply to either remove or inactivate Cryptosporidium. The treatment options available to the city for this include filtration (either traditional or newer micro-membrane technology to remove the parasites), ozonation (the introduction of ozone to water to destroy the Cryptosporidium oocysts) chlorine dioxide (a chemical disinfectant) or ultraviolet radiation (ultraviolet lights irradiate the Cryptosporidium oocysts to prevent them from reproducing which is commonly referred to as inactivation).

Secondly, the rule would require changes to how open finished drinking water reservoirs are managed and operated. The rule requires that water systems with uncovered finished water reservoirs, like those at Portland's Mt.Tabor and Washington Parks, either cover the reservoirs or provide treatment at the outlets of the reservoirs to either remove or inactive Cryptosporidium and other viruses.

Portland's Willamette Week puts it this way:

Portland's source water, from Bull Run watershed, is far removed from human activity, including cattle. The city, which monitors the water on a monthly basis, hasn't detected Cryptosporidium since 2002. Because of this, the city has been challenging the LT2 rule, compliance with which would require the city to institute additional treatment facilities AND cover the open watershed—both very expensive and, the Water Bureau argues, unnecessary.

For a city that does many a silly thing in the name of the environment, this is an interesting issue.

For more from the Portland Water Bureau, go here.

Catch the Willamette Week story here.

Lana Turner's Home County Spends $12.5 Million To Insure Against Crypto

marler@marlerclark.com (Cryptosporidium Lawyer) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:35:35 -0800

Shoshone County, Idaho was the home of Lana Turner (1921-1995). One of the 20th Century's biggest movie stars was discovered, according to the story, at Schwab's Drug Store by the publisher of the Hollywood Reporter. The railroad and mining town of Wallace, Idaho, however was also known for its whorehouses, some of which remained opened throughout much of the 20th Century.

So its no surprise that what appears on the surface might not be the entire story in this large county with fewer than 13,000 people.

For over 14 years, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has been trying to get the Central Shoshone County Water District to address what might be below the surface--giardia and cryptosporidium.

According to Steve Tanner, IDEQ engineering manager for North Idaho, CSCWD is the last large surface water-influenced water district in the state that remains unfiltered.

After failing to pass tax increases before, last August voters in Shoshone County did approve new taxes to pay for a new filtration plant.

Bids for the $12.5 million project, designed to provide the district with thousands of gallons per day of treated, potable water will be accepted on Feb. 25th.

Clean water free of giardia and cryptosporidium contamination will cost Shoshone rate-payers about $5 a month to start.

See the story on this in the Shoshone News Press here.

Milwaukee, Site of Largest Cryptosporidium Outbreak In U.S. History, Prefers Bottled Water

marler@marlerclark.com (Cryptosporidium Attorney) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:30:06 -0800

Freedom has been under attack for the past decade or so by the so-called "Nanny State." Most "Nanny State" laws and ordinances are the product of politicians who do not have enough to do or who are totally unable to solve real problems in this society. Sooner or later, however, some group of citizens somewhere are going to remember something about freedom and refuse to be treated like sheep.

Maybe, just maybe, the place that happens will be Milwaukee.

Milwaukee, you see, was the site of the largest cryptosporidium outbreak in U.S. history. The old "Town of Lake" water tower (right), known in 1993 as the Howard Avenue Water Purification Plant, became contaminated on about March 23rd and was shut-down on April 8th. But this was not before 403,000 Milwaukee residents became ill. Over 100 died, mostly elderly and those with weakened immune systems such as AIDS victims.
Of the 1.61 million area residents, half were served from the Howard Avenue plant. Either you or someone you knew became ill with the stomach cramps, fever, diarrhea and dehydration caused by the pathogen.
Milwaukee officials were never able to say how crypto got into the plant.

Needless to say, lots of folks in Milwaukee prefer bottled water to tap water. "Milwaukeeans, prompted in part by the memory of the cryptosporidium outbreak, have a large preference for water in the bottle instead of from the tap," writes Doug Hissom for onMilwaukee.com

He makes it clear the Nanny State ban of bottled water has not come to the Wisconsin city yet. If and when it does, we bet Nanny gets a bloody nose.

Rapid Screening Test To Tell If You Have Cryptosporidium Problem In Just 3 Hours

marler@marlerclark.com (Cryptosporidium Attorney) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:18:37 -0800

We've seen some cities move very quickly when they confirm that their splash, swimming or wave pools are contaminated by Cryptosporidium. Now comes a quicker test to detect the bug, one that moves the typical time for results up to a mere three hours, from today's fifteen hours.

Wendy Laursen, writing for TCE Today, the website of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, says:

"The new rapid screening tool uses fluorescent in situ hybridisation technology. The reliability of the new technology was tested against one of the standard methods applied in the water industry in collaboration with the Cryptosporidium Reference Laboratory in the UK. A strong correlation (0.994) between the two methods confirmed that the species identification method was as reliable as currently-used methods."

For more on the rapid screen tool, go here.

EPA Forces Small Towns And Rural Water Systems To Test For E coli And Crypto

marler@marlerclark.com (Cryptosporidium Attorney) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:26:50 -0800

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has brought certain California small towns and rural water systems into compliance for testing of E. coli, which can indicate the presence of cryptosporidium, a pathogen than can caused intestinal illness.

The company town of Scotia's water system is one such place.

According to the Times-Standard published in Eureka:

Scotia was one of 10 California towns and agencies which hadn't yet complied with a new federal regulation to test the source of its public drinking water system. It was supposed to begin monitoring for E. coli on Oct. 1. When it didn't, the EPA ordered it to start the program or face up to $32,500 a day for each violation.

”Since we issued the order they did come into compliance,” said EPA spokeswoman Mary Simms.

Scotia dates back to 1863. It was created as a "company town" by Pacific Lumber, known by the locals as PL, around the world's largest redwood mill. Go here for more.

3rd Highest Foreclosure Rate Means Florida Has Problem Pools All Over The Place--Crypto Risk High

marler@marlerclark.com (Cryptosporidium Attorney) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:45:32 -0800

To its growing problem with public and quasi-public swimming pools, Florida must now be concerned about its rising number of abandoned backyard pools. The Sunshine State is No. 3 in foreclosures, according to recent data, and residential swimming pools are common.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel recently reported on the public pool problem this way:

Nothing says "South Florida lifestyle" like a pool, a tropical oasis where you can take a dip year-round. But hundreds of pools are closed annually for carrying parasites, bacteria and other pathogens that can make swimmers seriously ill.

Swimming pools and spas in South Florida's apartment complexes, hotels and health clubs were closed a record 2,516 times last year for posing potential health hazards, a 44 percent increase over the previous year.

Health officials say the public needs to realize that a poorly maintained pool or spa poses health risks.

"When we all jump into a swimming pool, it's like we all are jumping into a bathtub together," said Michele Hlavsa, an federal epidemiologist. "You should know how well your pool is run."

The newspaper says Florida experienced at least 41 outbreaks of water-borne illnesses in the past ten years, including those involving Cryptosporidium. Go here for more.

Communitywide Cryptosporidiosis Outbreak--Utah, 2007

marler@marlerclark.com (Cryptosporidium Lawyer) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:14:33 -0800

The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) received 1,902 case reportsof laboratory-confirmed cryptosporidiosis during June-December2007, compared with an annual median of 16 reports of laboratory-confirmedcases (range: six to 20) during 2002-2006. All 1,902 cases metthe outbreak-related case definition.

Clearly, this was an outbreak made for eventual analysis for specific publication in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). That document has now been published and can be found here.

Below are the recommendations for health professionals in dealing with Crypto.

BOX. Preventing communitywide cryptosporidiosis outbreaks—Recommendationsfor health departments

Before increased transmission of Cryptosporidiumis detected

Establish strong working relationships with communitypartners, such as operators of treated recreational water venues(e.g., pools, water parks, and interactive fountains) and childcare programs. For example, maintain updated e-mail, fax, andtelephone lists for community partners.
Set disease actionthreshold (e.g., a twofold to threefold increase over baselinefor the previous 5 years) at which community partners will benotified and mobilized to implement additional control measures.
Develophealth communications about cryptosporidiosis control and outbreakresponse.
Educate community partners about how they can preventCryptosporidium transmission and about the control measuresthey will need to implement if the preset disease action thresholdis exceeded.
Collaborate with community partners to educatethe public about healthy swimming and good handwashing behaviors.

Ifthe preset disease action threshold is exceeded or an outbreakis detected, public health officials should rapidly mobilizecommunity partners to implement additional control measures

Controlmeasures for operators of treated recreational water venues:
- Reinforceefforts to educate the public about healthy swimming behaviors(e.g., not swimming while ill with diarrhea and not swallowingthe water).
- Post diarrhea-exclusion messages where patronscan easily see and read them before entering the facility andthe water.
- Restrict staff members who are ill with diarrheafrom entering the water. Consider reassigning them to dutiesthat do not require them to enter the water (e.g., administrativeduties) until their symptoms resolve.
- Hyperchlorinate the water(when not being used) at levels that inactivate Cryptosporidiumif the health department notifies the facility of the need tohyperchlorinate.
- Consider regular hyperchlorination (e.g.,weekly) to help prevent the spread of Cryptosporidium.
- Discussother possible prevention measures with local or state healthdepartment (e.g., suspending high-risk group events, such asvisits from child care groups).
Control measures for operatorsof child care programs:
- Educate parents and staff about cryptosporidiosisand how they can help stop Cryptosporidium transmission.
- Reinforcethe facility's diarrhea-exclusion policy. For example, reassignstaff ill with diarrhea to jobs that minimize the risk for transmission(e.g., administrative work instead of food preparation).
- Reinforcegood hand-washing practices among attendees and staff. Assistyoung children with hand washing as needed. (Note: Alcohol-basedhand gels and sanitizers are ineffective against Cryptosporidium.)
- Followgood diaper-changing practices. For example, with each diaperchange, use new disposable paper over diaper-changing surfacesand new gloves.
- Suspend all water-play and swimming activities(e.g., visits to public pools).
- Disinfect surfaces, particularlydiaper-changing areas and toys, with hydrogen peroxide. (Note:Bleach solutions are ineffective against Cryptosporidium.)

Health Officials In Texas Want To Extend Pool Regulations To Sprayparks

marler@marlerclark.com (Cryptosporidium Lawyer) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:35:27 -0800

Health authorities in Texas now say there is a dangerous oversight in state health codes.

They have concluded that this summer's outbreak of the cryptosporidium parasite from Burger's Lake spread to sprayparks.

Unlike larger public swimming pools, stand-alone fun fountains are not inspected and treated. WFAA-TV reports that:

More than 1,000 cases of the parasite cryptosporidium have been confirmed in counties across North Texas.

Only a handful of those were people who swam in Burger's Lake, the source of this summer's outbreak.

"We were under the assumption that the sprayparks were considered or had guidance under the health and safety code. And under our review, we discovered that they are not regulated under the health and safety code," said Zachary Thompson, from the Dallas County Health Department.

Health officials believe the smaller sprayparks helped spread the cryto parasite across Texas, They will seek legislation to close the loophole before next summer's swimming and splashing season begins anew.

Andrews Park Splash Pad Shut Down Due to Crypto

marler@marlerclark.com (Cryptosporidium Attorney) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:07:21 -0800

Oklahoma is finding itself in the middle of another food or water borne illness--this time it is an outbreak of Cryptosporidium that's made at least 20 people sick. KOCO-TV 5 in Oklahoma City reports:

Oklahoma health officials are looking into an outbreak of a waterborne disease in McClain and Cleveland counties that may be linked to a Norman water park.

At least 20 reported cases of cryptosporidiosis forced the health department to shut down The Splash Pad at Andrews Park early.

The illness, also known as crypto, can make one feel sick, have a fever and cause diarrhea. It’s commonly traced to swimming pools, especially those popular with children.

Water containing cryptosporidium was found in one of the attractions at The Splash Pad where water is allowed to recirculate.

Jeff Hill, of Norman’s Parks and Recreation Department, said of the 17 cases he knew about, fewer than a third were traced to The Splash Pad.“Our main concern was the health of the kids,” said Hill. “We don’t want them getting sick.” For more, go here.

Dallas Spends Summer Fight Crypto: And Crypto Is Winning

marler@marlerclark.com (Cryptosporidium Lawyer) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:19:17 -0800

Since late June, Dallas has seen 378 reports of laboratory confirmed cases of cryptosporidium connected to the use of recreational water facilities.

Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) going into the Labor Day weekend again called on the public to take an active role in halting the spread of cryptosporidiosis (crypto). Crypto is a diarrheal illness caused by microscopic parasites called Cryptosporidium.

“We are asking the public to help DCHHS stop this outbreak,” said Dr. Wendy Chung, DCHHS Chief Epidemiologist. “The means keeping cryptosporidiosis out of our water parks, spray parks and pools and also preventing person-to-person spread."

Also, DCHHS is recommending that persons at high risk of developing severe illness, such as those with compromised immune systems, avoid use of water parks or pools until further notice,” Chung continues.

”DCHHS is working with all the aquatic facilities linked to this outbreak to ensure that proper sanitation measures are being taken,” spokesman Zachary Thompson said. “A large number of cases of crypto in Dallas County have been associated with stand-alone spray parks and large water parks. "

For more, including info on getting crypto and the do's and don't according to Dallas health, go here.