title: An outbreak of Cryptosporidium at a recreational water park in Niagara Region, Canada.
abstract: Cryptosporidium is a parasitic protozoan found in water sources and spread through the fecal-oral route. Cryptosporidiosis is characterized by gastroenteritis and is increasingly associated with recreational water sources. On December 3, 2010, Niagara Region Public Health was informed of a laboratory-confirmed case of Cryptosporidium. Over the subsequent two weeks, a total of three additional laboratory-confirmed cases were reported. All cases had visited the same water park in Niagara Region, Canada, over November 14-16, 2010. A total of 12 cases associated with the outbreak ranged in age from 1 to 66 years. This article describes the outbreak, environmental investigation, and control measures. The environmental investigation revealed that the ultraviolet disinfection system was offline on November 14, 2010, which may have allowed for the transmission of Cryptosporidium to bathers. Further research into the detection of Cryptosporidium outbreaks and regulations and guidelines for water park operators may help to decrease future outbreaks.
authors.affiliation: Niagara Region Public Health McMaster University, Ontario, Canada. jessica.hopkins@niagararegion.ca
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hague
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hudgin
authors.forename: Lorrie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D011998:Recreation; D013551:Swimming Pools; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants