Swallowing Swim Water Can Cause Illness
Posted on: Monday, 19 May 2008, 15:00 CDT
The number of recreational water illnesses reported in 2007 was a record and it is expected to rise further, U.S. health officials say.
Officials of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta say recreational water illnesses are spread by swallowing, breathing, or having contact with germs in the water of swimming pools, spas, lakes, rivers or oceans.
The leading cause of recreational water illnesses outbreaks is Cryptosporidium, or Crypto, a chlorine-resistant parasite, primarily associated with treated swimming places, such as pools and water parks, said Michele Hlavsa, an epidemiologist at the CDC.
From 2004 to 2007, the number of Crypto cases tripled. During the same period, the number of Crypto outbreaks linked to swimming pools more than doubled. Crypto is chlorine resistant, so even a well-maintained pool can transmit the parasite, Hlavsa says.
Symptoms include: watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, fever and weight loss.
The parasite is spread by swallowing water contaminated with Crypto. Some people have no symptoms and most who have healthy immune systems will recover with no treatment, but for those with weakened immune systems the illness can be severe or life-threatening, health officials say.
Source: United Press International
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