The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention int he US has warned the public about disease outbreak caused by the parasite cryptosporidium. (Photo : Facebook/Children swimming laps official page)
Swimming in a public or backyard pool is not without dangers. There may be a parasite named cryptosporidium lurking in the pool or hot tub individuals or families are using, triggering serious illnesses that may even be fatal. This was the recent finding of the Centers for Disease Control in the United States.
Health experts at the CDC have disseminated information explaining that cryptosporidium can withstand the disinfecting ability of chlorine and survive up to 10 days in the water. Ninety disease outbreaks that have affected around 1,788 individuals from 2011 to 2012 in 32 US states and Puerto Rico have been traced to exposure to germs and chemicals in pool or tub water, and 52 percent of 69 outbreaks following swimming in chlorine-treated water had cryptosporidium as the culprit, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
Over five percent of the affected individuals ended up in the hospital, while one died. The 2012 report underscores the importance of taking preventive measures to curb the spread of disease. Public pool owners can strictly enforce the 'shower first before hitting the pool' rule. Families or individuals suffering from diarrhea also need to refrain from swimming.
A likely way that a person can be infected by the parasite is by inadvertently swallowing dirty pool water. The tendency of some people to pee or poop in pool water makes exposure of swimmers to germs highly probable. To date, the CDC has provided updates and cases of illnesses, notably the diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis linked to the parasite lurking in swimming pools and hot tubs have increased over the last few years, MyFoxBoston reported.
Heeding CDC's warning, and the adage that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" can help curb the spread of the disease-causing parasite.
