Swimming Pools Close After Cryptosporidium Outbreak

Swimming Pools Close After Cryptosporidium Outbreak

18 I 09 I 09

For the second time in just over a month swimming pools in Merthyr Tydfil have been closed following a cryptosporidium outbreak.

In mid August the first cluster of cases caused officials to close swimming pools at Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre when more than fifty people fell ill after swimming there and twenty were confirmed to be suffering cryptosporidiosis.

Now eight further cases have been confirmed in children and adults who used the pools between the end of August and the beginning of September and the pools have been closed as a precautionary measure since the swimming pools are a common risk factor in all confirmed cases.

The source of the outbreaks is still unclear and independent expert advice is being sought to assess if there is an ongoing risk to the public.

Partner at law firm Hugh James Solicitors, Iain Scott said, ‘Cryptosporidium is a parasite that can cause gastrointestinal illness. The parasite occurs in the faeces of infected animals or humans. To become infected a person will have consumed contaminated food or water’.

Typically those infected suffer diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, fever and weight loss. Usually symptoms appear within two to twelve days of exposure and resolve within two to three weeks after ingestion. Some infected people do not display symptoms; others suffer more severely especially those with weakened immune symptoms. In some cases the infection can lead to irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sufferers often recover without medical treatment, but treatments are available which may reduce symptoms.

It is thought that the outbreak in Merthyr may be due to ‘faecal accident’. Swimmers with diarrhoea have been thought to be the cause of unconnected cryptosporidium outbreaks in the past.

Hugh James Solicitors has represented claimants pursuing claims for compensation as a result of similar incidents. Iain Scott said, ‘To those communities using the facilities where the outbreak arose, and particularly for those infected with what are usually acute symptoms, an outbreak like this can be deeply distressing and unpleasant’.

‘Naturally people are concerned to make sure the authorities ensure the incident is investigated and prevented from re-occurring as quickly as possible. The National Public Health Service For Wales have taken the action they have with that in mind.

‘We tend to receive instructions to pursue relatively low value compensation claims by those caught up in outbreaks like this. The distress and inconvenience that the suffering causes to those infected is not insignificant and those who might consider pursuing a compensation claim would do well to speak to a specialist solicitor’.

Information

Read our personal injury service pages