Published Date: 2012-04-21 15:45:27
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Cryptosporidiosis, water park - USA (MN)
Archive Number: 20120421.1109537
CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS, WATER PARK - USA: (MINNESOTA)
************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Fri, Apr 20, 2012
Source: Minnesota public radio [edited]
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/19/water-park-outbreak/?utm_source=mprnews&utm_medium=hompepage&utm_term=h3story&utm_content=Health&utm_campaign=homepageopt
***[Repeat post because original did not go to the animal list AHEAD nor to the Emerging Disease list EDR. - ProMED]
Water Park in Duluth, Minnesota, 97 cases
-----------------------------------------
97 people have reported cases of cryptosporidiosis since last month's outbreak at Edgewater Resort and Water Park in Duluth, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.
22 of those cases have been confirmed in laboratories. Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) epidemiologist Trisha Robinson said the confirmed cases probably only represent a fraction of people who were actually sickened by the parasite. The investigation of the outbreak is still in progress.
"One different thing with cryptosporidiosis is the time from when a person is exposed to the time when they become sick can be as long as 2 weeks," Robinson said. "Pools were closed on 26 March, so we could still have people becoming ill 2 weeks after that, and their symptoms last anywhere from one to 2 weeks."
Another unrelated cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Brainerd [Minnesota] last month resulted in 36 reported cases, with one case being confirmed in a laboratory.
The symptoms of cryptosporidiosis include stomach cramps, fevers or diarrhea. It can be contracted by swimming in infected water, contact with animals or even drinking raw unpasteurized milk.
"The way that cryptosporidiosis is typically introduced into the water park,and which we believe is the instance in both of these cases, is that it comes in from an infected user," Robinson said.
In 2011, there were 305 laboratory-confirmed cases of cryptosporidiosis, according to preliminary MDH numbers. Robinson said one person was hospitalized in each of the Brainerd and Duluth outbreaks.
"It certainly can be more dangerous to those who are immune-compromised: the children, the very elderly, pregnant individuals," Robinson said. "In Minnesota, we can see about 20 percent of individuals that would require hospitalization for this, so it is something that can cause very serious illness." Robinson said that people who have been sick with diarrhea in the previous 2 weeks should avoid swimming in recreational waters.
--
Communicated by
Promed Mail from Health Map alerts
[Cryptosporidiosis is endemic in the United States and outbreaks in water parks have been reported before, although not as frequently as outbreaks in swimming pools. The statement here that "cryptosporidiosis is typically introduced into the water park …
from an infected user", indicate that someone defecated in the water park and the drained water is reused [without adequate re-treatment. - Mod.JW].
Health Map location: http://healthmap.org/r/2eyy - Mod. EP]
[Photo of Edgewater Resort and Water Park in Duluth:
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/media/full/jpg/2012/03/27/edge0328a_500px.jpg
- Mod.JW]
See Also
2005----
Cryptosporidiosis, swimming pools - USA (KY, OH): 20050903.2607
Cryptosporidiosis, water park - USA (NY)(03) 20050827.2539
Cryptosporidiosis - USA (OH) 20050824.2500
Cryptosporidiosis, swimming pools - USA (MT) 20050818.2415
Cryptosporidiosis, swimming pools - Australia (NSW) 20050617.1710
2003
----
Cryptosporidiosis, swimming pools - USA (Kansas) 20030825.2148
Cryptosporidiosis, swimming pool - Spain (Majorca) (02) 20030806.1935
Cryptosporidiosis - Spain: background 20030802.1894
2001
----
Cryptosporidiosis - USA (Illinois) 20010818.1957
Diarrhea, recreational water - USA 20010528.1035
2000
----
Cryptosporidiosis, pool-associated - USA (Ohio) (02) 20000808.1321
Cryptosporidiosis - USA (Florida) 20000905.1513
Cryptosporidiosis - USA (Ohio) (02) 20000904.1505
1999
----
Cryptosporidiosis, swimming pools - UK (England) 19991125.2087
Cryptosporidium, false positive ELISA tests - USA 19990116.0065
1998
----
Cryptosporidiosis - USA (Oregon) 19981001.1950
Cryptosporidiosis - USA (Texas) (03) 19980808.1551
.................................................sb/ep/jw