Updated: Investigation finds cryptosporidium in water sample from Fort Worth’s Burger’s Lake

by PegNews wire

Update:The Fort Worth swimming whole and other facilities around the area reopened Sunday after they cleaned the facility and it tested negative for parasites.

Water samples from Burger’s Lake (a local, recreational water facility) have tested positive for Cryptosporidium. The test was performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta.

Cryptosporidium is diagnosed as cryptosporidiosis, a diarrheal disease caused by a parasite. Its symptoms include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (which can last 1-2 weeks). It can also cause dehydration in young children, pregnant women and other vulnerable populations.

Public Health has eliminated environmental factors as a likely source or cause. It appears that the most likely source of the problem was an infected swimmer going to the bathroom in the lake. Public Health cannot overstress the need for people with gastrointestinal problems to stay out of pools. Public Health depends on the average citizen making considerate and reasonable decisions about their behavior when it may impact other people.

Following CDC guidelines and the best practices model for the elimination of Cryptosporidium, Tarrant County Public Health is working with the lake operator on the following steps:

Hyperchlorinate the lake to the recommended CDC levels.
Maintain hyperchlorination for the time prescribed by the CDC guidelines.
Tarrant County Public Health staff will monitor the hyperchlorination.
When the levels acceptable for swimming have been reached, reopening will be permissible.

Public Health cannot guarantee that a new infection will not occur if a person with diarrhea goes swimming in this or any other pool because normal chlorine levels that kill bacteria are not effective against cryptosporidium. Cryptosporidium is chlorine resistant.

Once introduced into a community, Cryptosporidium can be spread for months if the public is not vigilant about the key hygiene measures needed to stop the spread of the parasite.

Information about current cases of crypotsporidiosis

The total number of laboratory-confirmed cases of cryptosporidiosis as of July 23 is 20. The age range of infected people is 1 through 61 years.

The investigation has resulted in calls from more than 700 people. More than 600 reported diarrhea. Diarrhea is a very common illness in communities, and we cannot assume that all these people are ill with cryptosporidiosis. People who are ill should see their health care provider for testing.

Healthy Swimming Guidelines

Recreational water use can be one of the ways Cryptosporidium is spread. In addition to asking local public swimming pool operators to hyperchlorinate, Public Health recommends following the healthy swimming guidelines for people using recreational water facilities:

Do not swim when you are ill with diarrhea.
If you have cryptosporidiosis, do not swim for two weeks after your diarrhea ends.
Do not swallow the water when you swim or wade in pool/lake/river water. Avoid getting water in your mouth.
Practice good hygiene (i.e., shower before swimming).
Please take children on bathroom breaks or check diapers often. Waiting to hear “I need to go,” may mean that it is too late.
Please change diapers in a bathroom or a diaper-changing area and not at poolside.
Please wash children thoroughly (especially in the diaper region) with soap and water before swimming.

Source: Tarrant County Public Health