Stay Out of the Pool: Australian Health Officials Sound Alarm as Cryptosporidiosis Cases Spike

A worrying rise in the number of Cryptosporidiosis cases in New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland has prompted health officials to warn people who have suffered from diarrhoea not to go swimming for at least two weeks afterwards, to prevent spreading the parasite. NSW has seen 498 reported cases of cryptosporidiosis so far this year compared to the usual five-year average of 95. Queensland’s case numbers are even higher, with more than 823 infections compared to just 56 cases in January 2023. The disease is caused by a parasite that infects the intestine, and commonly causes watery diarrhoea and stomach cramps. Occasional symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite....