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Don't Drink the Pool Water, Experts Say

Crypto is a parasite tough enough to survive even in properly maintained pools

Columbia, SC (WLTX) - It is almost summer and many people will be looking for a pool to cool off in, but the Center for Disease Control is warning swimmers of potential dangers.

This week has been designated as Healthy and Safe Swimming week by the CDC. The yearly observance is the week before Memorial Day.

But before you jump in a pool, the CDC does have a warning for you. According a release by the CDC last week, a third of treated recreational waterborne disease outbreaks during 2000 through 2014 occurred in hotel pools or hot tubs.

The CDC released its latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report last week. The report described mixed results in preventing outbreaks caused by germs spread through treated recreational water.

In the report there were 493 outbreaks reported during this period resulted in at least 27,219 illnesses and eight deaths.

Cryptosporidium, also known as crypto, was the most common cause of illness in these pools according to the CDC. Crypto is a parasite tough enough to survive even in properly maintained pools. It can live up to ten days.

Crypto is spread in pool water when someone who is sick with the parasite goes swimming and has diarrhea in the water. Then someone swallows the contaminated water.

Michele Hlavsa, chief of the CDC's Healthy Swimming Program said in a release, "Chlorine cannot kill Crypto quickly. We need to keep it out of the water in the first place. Don't go into the water, and don't let your kids go into the water, if sick with diarrhea."

It was responsible for 58 percent of outbreaks, and 89 percent of all illnesses, where a germ was identified in contaminated pools, hot tubs and water playgrounds.

“Swallowing just a mouthful of water with Crypto in it can make otherwise healthy kids and adults sick for weeks with watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting,” said Hlavsa.

Given the number swimmers, the odds of getting sick is small, but the CDC says keeping water out of your mouth, nose and staying out of the water with open wounds will help lower your risks even more.

According to the CDC, take the following steps to protect yourself and loved ones from germs when swimming in pools, soaking in hot tubs, or visiting water playgrounds:

  • Don’t swim or let your kids swim if sick with diarrhea. If Crypto is the cause of the diarrhea, wait until 2 weeks after diarrhea has stopped to go swimming.
  • Check the pools, hot tubs and water playground inspection scores.
  • Before getting in the water, use a test strip from your local retailer or pool supply store to check if the water’s pH and bromine or free chlorine level are correct.
  • Don’t swallow the water.
  • Take kids on bathroom breaks hourly, and change diapers in a diaper-changing area and away from the water.

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