NKY Health Department: Parasitic illness spreading from local public pool

An outbreak of Cryptosporidiosis, better known as Crypto, is sweeping through Northern Kentucky.

The Northern Kentucky Health Department confirmed about a dozen cases and believes numerous probable cases are out there. The department told WCPO that they received multiple calls throughout Monday of people reporting symptoms.

The department reported about half of the original cases stemmed from people who visited Silverlake in Erlanger, Kentucky. The original source of the virus is unknown.

Crypto is a gastrointestinal illness with the following symptoms:

• Watery diarrhea
• Abdominal cramps
• Low fever
• Vomiting
• Nausea

Steve Divine, director of environmental health and safety at the Northern Kentucky Health Department, told WCPO that the parasite is very difficult to kill, and pools must "super chlorinate."
"Raise the chlorine level up much higher than you normally would for everyday operation. That has to go for a certain number of hours and then let it come back down for a normal range again before people can swim again,” Divine said.

Divine reported that Silverlake has done all it needs to do to reopen and safely operate for customers.

The health department urged anyone with symptoms to get tested. The tests can be done at urgent care or prescribed by a physician. Results can take 24-48 hours, but those who are infected can be asymptomatic, according to the department.

The infection can spread through touch or contact with human waste, especially for young children in close contact.

“I'm not just concerned about pools at this point, I'm worried about daycares. And now that schools are back in session, those as well," said Divine.

We reached out to Silverlake in Erlanger, where the health department told us some of the cases came from. The club released the following statement:

"Health and safety is our top priority at Silverlake and we are taking all the possible steps to ensure the pool is safe for our members, staff and guests. Following the notification of the first case by the Health Department, we immediately took action to close and clean our pool. Members were notified via social media that the pool would be closing for sanitation. We closed the pool by 5 pm at which time we followed the protocols of the Northern Kentucky Health Department with a process called super chlorination to kill Crypto. The Silverlake pool was over super chlorinated to ensure the levels were well beyond what is necessary to kill Crypto. Once this process was complete and chlorine levels returned to safe levels, we were cleared by the Health Department to reopen the pool. This process took over 42 hours to complete. The outdoor pool was closed from 5 pm on August 9th and reopened at 11 am on August 11th."

The department said the parasite is resistant to the normal level of chlorination, so even pools operating at the required standards can have an outbreak of Crypto.

Health officials warn that young children and those with suppressed immune systems are at the greatest risk for serious illness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the incubation period for the illness is two to 10 days, often presenting symptoms after seven days of exposure.

Crypto is spread through animal or human feces and inadequate handwashing is a common way to spread the parasite.

Health officials warn that Crypto is also known to be resistant to hand sanitizers, but persistent cleaning of surfaces and hand washing can help reduce risk.

Those who have similar symptoms are asked to avoid public pools for at least two weeks after symptoms have stopped.

If you believe you are infected, health officials encourage you to contact your health care provider for testing and call the Northern Kentucky Health Department. The department said in a press release that they are still investigating the outbreak.

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