CDC reports increase in cryptosporidiosis

Source: AWWA Streamlines Staff

During 2006–2008, the number of reported cases of cryptosporidiosis in the United States increased 80 percent (from 6,479 for 2006 to 11,657 for 2007) and then decreased 10 percent (to 10,500) in 2008, reports the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As in previous reports of this notifiable infectious disease, CDC largely atrributes incidence of cases to exposure among children in swimming pools and other recreational waters on a seasonal basis. Particularly, CDC partially attributes the increase in cases reported for 2007 and 2008 to "multiple large recreational water-associated outbreaks."

Noting that the increase during 2006–2008 "is a continuation of the fourfold increase in cryptosporidiosis since 2005," CDC reports that from 1988 through 2006, "Cryptosporidium was identified as the causal agent of 41.8 percent (100 of 239) of reported recreational water-associated outbreaks and of 5.7 percent (13 of 229) of reported drinking water-associated outbreaks of gastroenteritis in the United States."

CDC further concludes that

Risk factors associated with treated recreational water include fecal accidents in the pool, diapered toddlers in the pool, swimming while ill with diarrhea, and swallowing pool water.
Risk factors associated with drinking water include drinking large amounts of unboiled rural or well water and failure of treatment protocols for public water supplies.
Since 1993, no Cryptosporidium outbreaks associated with use of community surface water supplies have occurred in the United States.
USEPA's new Groundwater Rule might decrease the occurrence of Cryptosporidium outbreaks associated with groundwater use.
Incidence among the HIV-infected population has decreased since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection.
Given that swimming pool codes are reviewed and approved by state or local public health officials with no national standards or federal oversight, CDC is sponsoring an effort to develop a data-driven, knowledge-based National Model Aquatic Health Code.