title: Outbreak of cryptosporidiosis among young children attending a day-care centre in Durban.
abstract: During an outbreak of an enteric illness occurring among infants and toddlers in a day-care centre in Durban, Cryptosporidium was detected in 51 (73%) of 70 children. Two (10%) of 20 staff members were also found to have cryptosporidiosis. Symptoms occurred in all but 4 of the Cryptosporidium-positive infants and toddlers and lasted for 1-33 days. Oocyst excretion often persisted after cessation of symptoms and continued for up to 50 days in some children. Transmission is considered to have occurred predominantly by person-to-person spread. Measures to prevent transmission of enteric-type diseases were implemented and coincided with cessation of the outbreak.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Natal, Durban.
authors.forename: I N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van den Ende
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Dees
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Taynton
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Bennett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D013019:South Africa; D013997:Time Factors