Dubuque Officials Warn of Waterborne Illness

Steve Lombardi

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An outbreak of a waterborne illness called Cryptosporidiosis has been reported in Dubuque, Iowa. Within the last month, 20 cases have been recorded. Mary Rose Corrigan, a public health specialist, says that this illness is caused from coming in contact with a source that contains the parasite, such as water. It can be contracted either through hand to mouth contact or through swallowing contaminated water.

Most of the 20 reported cases are in children 14 years and younger. Corrigan believes this is because children swallow water while they are swimming and put their hands in their mouths more often than adults.

The Cryptosporidium is in human or animal waste and it gets into your intestinal tract through water or food and causes severe diarrhea, cramps and sometimes fever.

Corrigan says there is no cure for the illness except to wait for it to end. Symptoms can last from seven to ten days. Of the cases reported, there have not been any serious outcomes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more information regarding healthy swimming.
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