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Another Diarrheal Illness Increases Across Iowa (IDPH, August 8 2013): Cryptosporidium
[Source: Iowa Department of Public Health, full page: (LINK). Edited.]
Another Diarrheal Illness Increases Across Iowa
In recent weeks, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has received a growing number of reports of Cryptosporidiosis, or ?Crypto.?
Of the 358 cases of Crypto reported to IDPH so far this year, 272 cases have occurred since June 1. An additional 138 cases are currently under investigation. Cases have been reported in nearly half of Iowa?s 99 counties. In 2012, a total of 328 Crypto cases were reported for the entire year.
Crypto is a disease caused by a parasite that results in watery diarrhea, sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and low grade fever. Crypto can cause disease in both humans and animals. People get Crypto by coming in contact with persons or animals shedding the parasite, or by drinking water contaminated with the parasite.
Many of the people who have become ill with Crypto reported swimming in pools, and some in lakes or rivers. ?The most effective way to keep swimming waters healthy is by keeping unhealthy people out of them,? said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. ?If you or your child is or has recently been sick with diarrhea, don?t go swimming.? A small number of people also reported being around animals. To protect against illness, be sure to wash hands after any contact with animals or their living areas, and after handling animal waste.
To keep swimming safe, remember:
Crypto cases by County (reported 6/1/13 through 8/7/13):
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Another Diarrheal Illness Increases Across Iowa
In recent weeks, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has received a growing number of reports of Cryptosporidiosis, or ?Crypto.?
Of the 358 cases of Crypto reported to IDPH so far this year, 272 cases have occurred since June 1. An additional 138 cases are currently under investigation. Cases have been reported in nearly half of Iowa?s 99 counties. In 2012, a total of 328 Crypto cases were reported for the entire year.
Crypto is a disease caused by a parasite that results in watery diarrhea, sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and low grade fever. Crypto can cause disease in both humans and animals. People get Crypto by coming in contact with persons or animals shedding the parasite, or by drinking water contaminated with the parasite.
Many of the people who have become ill with Crypto reported swimming in pools, and some in lakes or rivers. ?The most effective way to keep swimming waters healthy is by keeping unhealthy people out of them,? said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. ?If you or your child is or has recently been sick with diarrhea, don?t go swimming.? A small number of people also reported being around animals. To protect against illness, be sure to wash hands after any contact with animals or their living areas, and after handling animal waste.
To keep swimming safe, remember:
- Protect others by not swimming if you are experiencing diarrhea (this is essential for children in diapers). If diagnosed with Crypto, do not swim for at least two weeks after diarrhea stops.
- Do not swallow water in your mouth.
- Thoroughly wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
- Shower yourself and your child before swimming.
- Change diapers in a bathroom, not at the poolside.
- Take your kids on bathroom breaks and check swim diapers often.
- Wash hands before preparing or eating food; after using the toilet; after changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet; and before and after caring for someone who is ill with diarrhea.
- To reduce the risk of disease transmission, children with diarrhea should be excluded from child care settings until the diarrhea has stopped.
Crypto cases by County (reported 6/1/13 through 8/7/13):
- Adair (3),
- Benton (5),
- Black Hawk (3),
- Boone (4),
- Bremer (1),
- Buchanan (2),
- Cerro Gordo (1),
- Clarke (1),
- Clayton (1),
- Dallas (6),
- Decatur (1),
- Delaware (14),
- Des Moines (2),
- Dubuque (11),
- Floyd (1),
- Guthrie (1),
- Hancock (1),
- Howard (1),
- Humboldt (14),
- Jackson (3),
- Jasper (3),
- Johnson (3),
- Jones (2),
- Lee (1),
- Linn (16),
- Madison (2),
- Marion(1),
- Marshall (1),
- Mitchell (1),
- Monona (1),
- Monroe (1),
- Palo Alto (1),
- Polk (106),
- Pottawattamie (2),
- Sac (2),
- Scott (2),
- Sioux (4),
- Story (5),
- Van Buren (5),
- Wapello (2),
- Warren (12),
- Washington (1),
- Wayne (1),
- Webster (17),
- Woodbury (3),
- Worth (1)
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