REPOST: Victoria | Update: Outbreak of Cryptosporidiosis extends to regional Victoria

As gastroenteritis (cryptosporidiosis) outbreak in Melbourne rises four-fold, hygiene measures at pools and other facilities are strongly encouraged.

This article tells more about cryptosporidiosis including its transmission and symptoms.  


The Department is investigating a four-fold increase in Cryptosporidium notifications since January 2013.

Many cases are reporting exposure to swimming pools in their incubation periods, and other settings representing a risk for onwards transmission are households and childcare facilities.

Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic disease that most commonly causes gastroenteritis. Since January 2013, there has been a substantial increase in Cryptosporidium notifications, While initially focussed on metropolitan Melbourne, an increase in notifications is now affecting regional Victoria.

The organism lasts for long periods in water and the environment and is not destroyed by regular chlorination.

In this outbreak there appears to be a role for transmission related to swimming pools and the key priority is the identification and prevention of further cases through hygiene measures at pools, childcare facilities and in household settings where there are cases. The Department is working with pool managers to ensure effective measures are in place to address the issue.

Whilst all people are susceptible to becoming infected, certain groups are more likely to become seriously ill including younger children, pregnant women and individuals with weakened immune systems.

The most common presentation is gastroenteritis, with symptoms including watery diarrhoea, cramping abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting and fever. Less commonly, Cryptosporidium infection can present as pneumonia, cholecystitis or pancreatitis.

After exposure it can take up to 12 days to develop symptoms, which then last between 4 to 21 days. Individuals are potentially infectious from the onset of symptoms until two weeks after becoming asymptomatic.

Transmission occurs by the faecal-oral route (person to person and animal to person), and via ingestion of contaminated water or foods.

> Blue World Pools is a supplier of above ground swimming pools which puts the health and safety of it customers at the core of its business. Visit this website for more information about managing health and safety in swimming pools.

Chlorine check: The dangers of very high levels in swimming pools

 
Image Source: catherinegarceau.com


In 2010, Canadian Olympic athlete Catherine Garceau rang the alarm bells for very high levels of chlorine in Olympic training pools. She enumerated the symptoms that came in the aftermath of her bronze medal run as part of her country’s synchronized swim team in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.


Reportedly, Garceau had acquired complications in her digestive system, chronic bronchitis, and frequent migraines. These she and her doctors attributed to training in pools with very high levels of chlorine.



Image Source: triathlon.competitor.com


While Garceau’s time spent submerged in swimming pools as an athlete is infinitely greater than that of leisure swimmers, her physiological complications still challenge the long-running pool maintenance practice of using chlorine as a bacteria-killing agent. In pool hygiene terms, chlorine is by far the viable option other than the deep blue sea. The question remains whether the chemical is intrinsically harmful or pool maintenance practices are simply overdoing it.


Garceau’s own investigation clears chlorine enough of total culpability. Her research led her to a string of other agents that could interact with chlorine to produce nefarious health issues. Some of these are taken-for-granted substances like sunscreen, sweat, urine, and other dermal agents. In better days, these are the ignored killjoys of a pleasant dip.



Image Source: topnews.in


In-depth studies of chlorine application and diseases associated with it, however, also single out chlorine derivatives that increase health risks. Their effects are further aggravated by their application in indoor swimming pools, where they may be interiorly trapped. These fumes could also be inhaled by pool visitors.


These studies belie the need for disinfected pools. To date, substitutes for chlorine have not been discovered, so the best compromise for leisure swimmers is temperance. As for athletes…perhaps the deep blue sea?


There may be other ways to temper chlorine dependency. Pool builders such as Blue World Pools could also prioritize designs on outdoor pools. The mechanics of installing and maintaining pools are still best left to experts. To scout swimming pool trends, visit this website.