A SCHOOL was forced to CLOSE after hundreds of people were struck down by diarrhea caused by contaminated tap water
Residents of Brixham, Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland and North East Paignton in Devon must boil their tap water after a Horror waterborne parasite was found in the supply.
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The UK Health Safety Agency is investigating 22 cases of cryptosporidium in South Devon – with hundreds more feared to be ill.
Both residents and visitors experience severe symptoms, including watery diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea or vomiting, mild fever and loss of appetite.
Now, as a result, Eden Park Primary and Nursery has been forced to close its doors today.
In a letter to parents, they said that “it is not possible to run a school without drinking water”.
They added that employees “remain hopeful about opening again on Friday, pending deliveries and the situation.”
It turns out that victims of the disease tell how the symptoms are the “worst of all”.
Resident Tanya Matthews, who lives in the Ocean View area, said every family on her street is showing symptoms of the virus.
She said DevonLive: “I started having stomach cramps and explosive diarrhea nine days ago and it’s been the same every day since.
“I started to feel a little better yesterday than I did today [May 14] It hit me again.”
Cryptosporidium is a parasite that can live in the intestines and feces of infected humans and animals.
It can spread through swimming or drinking contaminated water, but it can also be transmitted through food.
One person who wanted to remain anonymous thought they had norovirus, adding: “But because it went on for so long, I had to contact the doctors.
“It’s the worst illness I’ve ever experienced.
“I sent in a stool sample which came back as cryptosporidium, which I had never heard of until I saw the post on Brixham Fish Town.”
There is no specific treatment for the virus, but patients are advised to drink plenty of fluids and rehydrate.
Latest statement from South West Water:
Customers in Alston and the Hillhead area of Brixham are advised to boil their drinking water before consuming, following new test results for Cryptosporidium.
We are issuing this warning following small traces of the organism identified overnight and this morning.
We are working with the UK Health Security Agency and other public health partners to urgently investigate and eliminate the source.
We apologize for the inconvenience caused and will continue to keep customers and businesses updated.
Bottled water stations will be installed in affected areas as soon as possible.
South West Water confirmed on Wednesday that customers hit by a boil water notice will receive an automatic £15 as a result of “disrupted” services.
It is not the first time that a rise in cryptospordium has swept Britain.
Last year, a record 367 cases of the nasty virus were recorded during the week ending October 2.
A spokesperson for South West Water previously said: “We are aware of social media posts about the quality of drinking water in the Brixham area and would like to reassure customers that the water supply is good enough to continue to be used as normal.
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“We performed sampling and testing for Cryptosporidium and all results were clear.
“We always carefully monitor our drinking water supplies and support the UK Health Security Agency in their investigations.”
Sarah Bird, Health Protection Advisor at UKHSA South West, said: “We advise people in affected areas to follow advice from South West Water and boil their drinking water and let it cool before using.
“Anyone with diarrhea should drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and if you have serious symptoms, such as bloody diarrhea, you should contact NHS111 or your GP.
Take steps to protect yourself and your family
By Lizzie Parry, Head of Health
ANYONE who has ever had a bout of norovirus knows how terrible a stomach bug can be.
In this case, the cause appears to be the Cryptosporidium parasite, a tiny organism that causes a disease known as cryptosporidiosis.
The insect can be found in the intestines and feces of infected humans and animals.
Anyone can get sick, but it is most common in children between one and five years old.
Other people at high risk include people who work with animals, people exposed to human feces (parents changing diapers), and people who swim in open water.
This is because you catch the virus from an infected person or animal when you come into contact with their feces.
Other sources of infection include drinking or swimming in contaminated water, eating contaminated fresh food (unwashed or unpeeled vegetables or salads), and drinking contaminated raw milk.
Like norovirus, symptoms can be very unpleasant watery diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea or vomiting, fever and loss of appetite, which can lead to dehydration.
Symptoms tend to last about two weeks, but may subside and reappear during this time.
The only way to know for sure if you’ve been infected—and to tell it apart from other belly bugs—is to ask your doctor to test a stool sample.
Like other infectious viruses, there are things you can do to protect yourself and your family.
First, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before handling any food, after preparing raw food, after using the bathroom or changing a baby’s diaper, and after playing with or caring for any animal – including your pets. pet.
And if you or a member of your family catches the virus, wash all dirty bedding and towels, avoid sharing towels, clean all bathrooms, and avoid preparing food for others until you have been symptom-free for at least 48 hours. .
It goes without saying that if you have symptoms, avoid going to work or taking your children to school until you too have been symptom-free for 48 hours.
There is no specific treatment, but most healthy people recover within a month. The NHS notes that it’s important to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
If you’re worried about your child or can’t shake the problem, it’s worth speaking to your GP – try filling in an online consultation form.
“Symptoms include: watery diarrhea, stomach pain, dehydration, weight loss and fever, which can last 2 to 3 weeks. Anyone can get cryptosporidiosis, but it is most common in children between the ages of 1 and 5 and most healthy people will fully recover.
“For most people, Cryptosporidium symptoms can be treated at home without medical advice.
“Those affected should stay out of school and work for 48 hours after the last episode of illness and away from swimming pools for 14 days after the last episode of illness.”
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
