Personal Injury Law

Cryptosporidium parasite restrictions entirely lifted in Utah

The final pool restrictions imposed last summer to curb an outbreak of the cryptosporidiosis parasite have been lifted in Davis County and statewide.  The Utah Department of Health announced Wednesday that the restrictions have been lifted. Pool operators are no longer required to hyperchlorinate pools and maintain higher levels of chlorine. The restriction from swimming has also been lifted for anyone who needs to wear diapers, regardless of age. And day care centers may once again include water activities in their daily routines.

The parasite has a very hard outer shell which resists normal pool chlorination. That’s why pool operators had to hyperchlorinate pools this summer.  Crypto is a parasite that causes severe chronic diarrhea. The bug infected pools across much of the Wasatch Front over the summer.  The parasite cryptosporidium is transmitted through a fecal-oral route. That means during the off-season for swimming, the parasite is most often transmitted in places like day care centers, where a lot of diapers are being changed, Garrett said, and by people, especially children, failing to wash their hands after using the bathroom.

Full post as published by Cryptosporidium Blog on November 18, 2007 (boomark / email).