Posted on 08/19/2005 9:24:41 AM PDT by FairOpinion
ALBANY, N.Y.
Gastrointestinal illness possibly stemming from a state-run water playground has sickened more than 700 people, mostly children and teenagers, the state Health Department said Thursday.
"The numbers are growing significantly," said department spokesman Rob Kenny.
Seneca Lake Park's Sprayground, which has water jets shooting up from a hardtop surface, was closed after tests showed the tank system that feeds the water jets was contaminated with a common waterborne disease called cryptosporidiosis.
The disease is highly contagious and can cause diarrhea, nausea and fever that can last for weeks. It usually goes away without treatment in healthy individuals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Five of the illnesses from the Sprayground have so far been confirmed as cryptosporidiosis.
No deaths have been associated with the outbreak, and many of the people connected with the outbreak have already recovered, Kenny said.
The Sprayground averages more than a thousand visitors a day in August. It is in the Finger Lakes region, about 45 miles southwest of Syracuse.
The water is monitored several times a day for proper chlorine levels and tested monthly for bacteria like E. coli, said Wendy Gibson, spokeswoman for the state parks department.
The Health Department at first temporarily shut down the Sprayground on Tuesday after receiving more than 100 reported cases of illness dating to early July. After the public was notified of the outbreak, the number of reported illnesses jumped to 746.
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On the Net:
New York State Department of Health: http://www.health.state.ny.us/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/
Water sprayground in Gonzales closed after illness reported
GONZALES, La. Gonzales officials and the state Department of Health and Hospitals have shut down a sprayground at Jambalaya Park after several people reported contracting a parasite.
Though there's no evidence yet that the water park is the source of the parasite, D-H-H spokesman Bob Johannessen says visiting the area is one thing all the victims have in common.
Johannessen says the parasite in question is cryptosporidium, which is usually found in water or food.
Mrs. Edwards won't see John for another three months.
Leni
From another article about some pools being contaminated in Oregon:
http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2005/0813/local/stories/06local.htm
"Cryptosporidium can survive for weeks in normally chlorinated pool water.
Cryptosporidia are microscopic parasites that live in the intestines of humans and animals. The disease is passed through contact with feces. The parasite is typically spread by swallowing small amounts of infected water.
Fewer than 10 parasites can sicken a healthy person, Baures said. The illness typically develops between two and 15 days after exposure and can last up to two weeks. Symptoms are usually stomach cramps and watery diarrhea, but can also include vomiting, fever and headache."It’s no fun to deal with at the time, but it generally resolves on its own," said Baures. The illness can be more serious in people with weakened immune systems. Infected people should stay out of the water for at least two weeks after they’re better, he added. "
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The article I posted originally said the disease is contagious, but they didn't elaborate.
So where did the park get the water to fill its tanks from? Wells? Municiple water system? If I recollect propertly, cryptosporidium is harder to kill than most bacteria. Do all public water systems look for and treat it, I wonder? And it seems to me there was an e-coli outbreak around Albany a while back that was traced to ag waste, cow poop, getting into the well water. I wonder how you deal with it if it's in well water.
Your neck of the woods. (Almost.)
(See, ya don't have to go to Mexico to not drink the water.)
So Hillary, how do you remember Vince Foster?
Apparently putting higher levels of chlorine in the water kills it. So I guess public places need to use more chlorine.
Gathering all of these victims in one room to take depositions will be quite fun.
I read an article in WIRED about water parks and the innumerable instances of fecal discharges that result in contaminated water. "Discharges" especially amongst the younger visitors are common, and the usual COA is to add more chlorine to the water, which is not always immediately effective.
I DO NOT visit water parks since I read the article.
She is cukoo, indeed. And, likely, our next President (Heaven help us!).
I guess that wasn't a snickers bar floating in the water after all.
And what about sick people who are infected with cryptosporidium? Does it go away then?
Even previously healthy people are sick for several WEEKS, and are probably fairly incapacitated.
Probably other people are sicker and may even die, they just don't want to come out and say that.
Thanks, danger around every corner it seems; especially since hillary moved to NY anyway..........
It is more likely that babies and toddlers have soiled their diapers and gone into the pool. The source is almost always human feces. Water parks are nasty.
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