Parents warned nurseries are ‘hotspots’ as cryptosporidium cases rise to 46

An urgent warning has been issued to parents as nurseries are being dubbed ‘parasite hotspots’. Hundreds of people are sick after tap water in the seaside town of Brixham was found to be contaminated with cryptosporidium, with 46 people affected and children at high risk.

“We could see the spread in nurseries and playgroups where one child was infected in the area, but not all children,” Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia, told Sun Health today.

Anyone can get it, but the disease is especially common in children between 1 and 5 years old. “Children are more likely to pass the bugs on to their peers than adults because they often forget to wash their hands after using the toilet or before eating,” Professor Paul said. “And their stools can retain insect remains for longer,” he added.

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“The grease could also spread if visitors drank the water while in the area and only became ill when they returned home, wherever they lived in the UK or the world,” he explained. Touching infected feces and then putting unwashed hands near your mouth is a common way to catch cryptosporidiosis. You can also get it by swallowing contaminated water while swimming or drinking untreated water.

Elaine Hollier, 80, was admitted to hospital after suffering severe dehydration and vomiting for two weeks. Dennis, Elaine’s husband of 60 years, said: “She was absolutely diabolical. It was so upsetting to see my wife in a hospital bed with tubes coming out of her arms for antibiotics.

“He has no appetite and no energy. And I was very worried for myself, because they had no idea.” Symptoms can last for around 2 weeks, with the illness appearing to improve and then returning before you recover properly.