What is cryptosporidium and what are the symptoms during an outbreak

“Hundreds” are believed to be sick in a seaside town following reports of a waterborne illness caused by a parasite that can live in the intestines and faeces of infected people and animals. It is being investigated as a suspected outbreak of “Cryptosporidium”.

Symptoms reported in Devon include severe watery diarrhoea, stomach pain, nausea or vomiting, mild fever and loss of appetite, usually lasting one to two weeks. Cryptosporidium, a parasite that can be found in the intestines and feces of infected humans and animals, can be spread by swimming or drinking contaminated water, among other routes, such as contaminated food.

The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed 16 cases of cryptosporidium and around 70 reported cases of diarrhea and vomiting – with more cases reported by victims on social media.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that causes the diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis. Both the parasite and the disease are commonly known as “Crypto”.

There are many species of Cryptosporidium that infect animals, some of which also infect humans. The parasite is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive outside the body for long periods of time and makes it very tolerant of chlorine disinfection.

While this parasite can be spread in several different ways, water (drinking water and recreational water) is the most common way to spread the parasite. Cryptosporidium is a leading cause of waterborne disease in humans in the United States.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of cryptosporidiosis generally begin 2 to 10 days (average 7 days) after being infected with the parasite. The most common symptom of cryptosporidiosis is watery diarrhea.

Symptoms include:

• Watery diarrhea
• Cramps or stomach pain
• Dehydration
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Weight loss

Some people with Crypto will have no symptoms at all.

Symptoms usually last about one to two weeks (ranging from a few days to 4 or more weeks) in people with healthy immune systems. Occasionally, people may experience a return of symptoms after a short recovery period before the illness is over.

Symptoms can come and go for up to 30 days.

How can you catch it?

Crypto lives in the intestines of infected humans or animals. An infected person or animal sheds Cryptosporidium parasites in the stool.

Millions of Crypto parasites can be released in a bowel movement from an infected human or animal. Loss begins when symptoms begin and can last for weeks after symptoms stop (eg, diarrhea).

You can become infected after accidentally swallowing the parasite. Crypto can be found in soil, food, water, or surfaces that have been contaminated with feces from infected humans or animals.

Crypto is not spread through blood contact.

It can be spread by:

• Put something in your mouth or accidentally swallow something that has come into contact with the stool of a person or animal infected with Crypto.
• Ingesting Crypto Contaminated Recreational Water. Recreational water can be contaminated with sewage or human or animal feces.
• Swallowing water or drinks contaminated with stool from infected people or animals.
• Eating uncooked food contaminated with Crypto. All fruits and vegetables that you intend to eat raw should be washed thoroughly with uncontaminated water.
• Touching the mouth with contaminated hands. Hands can be contaminated through a variety of activities, such as: touching surfaces (eg, toys, bath accessories, changing tables, diaper pails) that have been contaminated with the stool of an infected person, changing diapers, caring for a infected people and handling an infected animal such as a cow or calf.

Who is most at risk?

There are some people who are more at risk of exposure to the parasite than others. These include:

• Children attending child care centers, including children of diaper age
• Child care workers
• Parents of infected children
• Elderly adults (aged over 75 years)
• People who care for other people with cryptosporidiosis
• International travelers
• Backpackers, hikers and campers drinking unfiltered, untreated water
• People drinking from untreated, unprotected shallow wells
• People, including swimmers, who swallow water from contaminated sources
• Persons handling infected cattle
• People exposed to human feces through sexual contact

Once infected, people with low immunity are most at risk of developing severe disease. The risk of developing severe disease may differ depending on the degree of immune suppression in each person.