Crypto, or Cryptosporidiosis is a disease caused by a microscopic parasitic protozoan that is immune to the chlorine levels found in most public pools. This disease causes severe diarrhea that lasts for at least two weeks.
During the outbreak, in August 2007, public officials banned children five years and younger from entering public pools. This ban was put into effect in ten different counties:
- Bear River
- Central Utah
- Davis County
- Salt Lake Valley
- Southwest Utah
- Summit County
- Tooele County
- Utah County
- Wasatch County
- Weber-Morgan
In September, the ban was modified to allow children under five who did not wear diapers. By the end of the outbreak, 1,092 cases had been identified.
Latest Developments
There is no current ban for swimmers of any age. The Utah Health Department has launched a public information message informing residents about Crypto and how to take preventative measures.
Preventative measures include:
- Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet, changing diapers, before eating and before preparing food.
- Don't swim if you have diarrhea and avoid swimming for two weeks after your symptoms have stopped.
- Don't swallow pool or other water. Keep your mouth closed while swimming.
- Shower with soap and water, paying close attention to the bottom area.
- Take plenty of bathroom breaks.
- Change diapers in a designated diaper-changing area, away from the water.
- After changing a diaper, wash your child's bottom with soap and water.
- Even though it may be embarrassing, report any accidents to the pool manager.
Background
During the investigation into the Crypto outbreak, it was determined that recreational pools and water parks were the main source of the Crypto parasite. As the outbreak went on, person-to-person contamination was more likely to be the source.This is because Crypto is highly contagious and can be passed easily if proper hygiene isn't followed while preparing food, changing diapers or following a bathroom break.
Twenty-eight of the Crypto cases were food-handlers but the majority of cases were found in children under age five. Daycare providers were notified during the outbreak and procedures at changing tables were modified to include more stringent cleaning policies.