NURSINGS are foci of parasites that can help spread the disease. diarrhea bug ravaging Devon, an expert has warned.
Hundreds of people fell ill after tap water in the coastal town of Brixham was discovered to be contaminated with Cryptosporidium.
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The UK Health Security Agency is investigating 46 confirmed cases linked to the ‘crypto’ outbreak.
Experts fear that young children, who tend to be contagious for longer periods, could help spread the parasite to more people.
“We may see spread in nurseries and playgroups where one child has been infected in the area, but not all children,” Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia, told Sun Health.
Waterborne disease can be transmitted directly from another person or animal by touching feces or by swimming in or consuming contaminated water or food.
Infected people experience symptoms such as diarrhea, “labor-like” cramps, nausea or vomiting, low-grade fever and loss of appetite for up to two weeks.
“Children are more likely to transmit insects to their peers than adults as they often forget to wash their hands after going to the toilet or before eating,” said Professor Paul.
“And their feces can retain insect remains for longer,” he added.
According to the NHS, cryptosporidium is most common in pre-school children and most make a full recovery.
He said Britons outside Devon could be at risk of coming into contact with someone who has carried the disease outside the region.
“The virus can also spread if visitors drink the water whilst in the area and only become ill when they return home, wherever they live in the UK or around the world,” he explained.
On Wednesday, South West Water asked residents in Brixham, Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland and North East Paignton to boil their tap water.
The water company apologized for the outbreak, as it fears that the fallout from dirty water could ruin the semester and trigger an exodus of tourists.
The possible source of the bug has been identified as a “damaged air valve” in the Hilldean area of Brixham.
Local MP Anthony Magnall said this “may have allowed animal waste or contaminated groundwater to enter the local supply”.
How to know if you’ve caught Cryptosporidium – plus steps to avoid it
HUNDREDS of people in Devon have been hit by a parasite that has infiltrated the water supply.
The insect, cryptosporidium, commonly known as ‘crypto’, can infect the digestive systems of animals and people.
Most people recover, but some can become seriously ill, such as very young children and people with particularly weak immune systems.
What are the symptoms?
- Profuse watery diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Low fever
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
- Weight loss
Symptoms usually last about two weeks, but may last longer, especially in people with weak immune systems.
During illness, you may think you are getting better and have gotten rid of the infection, but it returns a few days later before you have fully recovered.
Take the following steps to protect yourself from the disease
The advice for people living in the affected area is to boil drinking water and drink plenty to avoid dehydration – and to stay away from home until the situation eases.
In addition to the current outbreak, crypto can also be caught in lakes and pools and in contact with animal manure.
Therefore, you should always avoid swallowing water from lakes and swimming pools.
Catching it from animals is generally the most common way people get sick, with a peak occurring in the spring when farms hold open days.
You should always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after working, feeding, caring for, or playing with pets and other animals.
How do I treat the disease?
There is no specific treatment for cryptosporidiosis.
Most people with a healthy immune system will recover within a month.
It’s important to drink plenty of fluids, as diarrhea or vomiting can lead to dehydration and you can lose important sugars and minerals from your body.
Cryptosporidiosis is highly infectious, so you need to be very clean in your home for at least 48 hours after your symptoms disappear, then don’t return to work or school until that time has passed, don’t share towels or bedding, and don’t prepare food for other people.
You are infectious to others while you are sick and have symptoms
‘TUBES COMING OUT OF HIS ARMS’
Brixham resident Lisa Horswill, who was struck by the parasite, said iNews: “It’s worse after you finish eating.
“Then the diarrhea just empties you and the stomach cramps set in, which are as painful as childbirth.”
Gran Elaine Hollier, 80, was hospitalized after suffering severe dehydration and vomiting for two weeks.
Dennis, Elaine’s husband of 60 years, said: “She was absolutely diabolical.
“It was very upsetting to see my wife in a hospital bed with tubes coming out of her arms for antibiotics.
“She has no appetite or energy. I was also really worried about myself because they didn’t have a clue.”
Hollier says he had symptoms but had a “lucky escape” as he drinks less water than his wife.
Both initially thought an undercooked sausage had made them sick.
The cryptosporidium outbreak has led to water bottle collection points being set up in Brixham and Paignton so local residents can get drinking water.
In a statement, South West Water announced it would increase its compensation package to local residents to £115 “to apologize for the stress and worry the situation has caused”.
South West Water previously offered just £15 to customers whose water was infected with Cryptospordium.
Laura Flowerdew, the company’s chief customer and digital officer, said “we sincerely apologize for the impact this is having.”
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 small 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.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
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