Dirty water crisis sparks half-term HELL with hotels & restaurants facing closures over ‘horrific’ month-long bug
It is not the first time a spike in cryptospordium has swept Britain
HALF term could be thrown into chaos with restaurant and hotel closures after hundreds were struck down by a diarrhoea bug.
Residents across Brixham, Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland and North East Paignton in Devon must boil their tap water after a waterborne parasite was found in the supply.
The UK Health Security Agency is investigating 22 cases of cryptosporidium in South Devon – with hundreds more feared ill.
Residents and visitors alike are experiencing grim symptoms including watery diarrhoea, stomach pains, nausea or vomiting, a mild fever, and loss of appetite.
Those struck down by the parasite – which causes cryptosporidiosis – could be ill for a up to a month, an expert has warned.
Businesses in Brixham are reporting mass cancellations and a tourist exodus from the popular holiday spot.
Clare, who runs Casa Nostra Italian on Fore St, Brixham, said she had lost thousands of pounds in business as customers panicked over cryptosporidium cancelled their bookings.
She told The Sun on Wednesday: “I’m sat here dreading the cancellations coming in.
“I was near enough fully booked. We trade three days a week. So many have cancelled. I’ve only got a table of five left.
“Roughly lost a grand, grand a half a night. No-one has approached any businesses or said has this affected you.
“I am really worried, like I said, we are not a chain, we are not supported by anyone else. There is no support from anyone.”
While John Ingram of The Bay Coffee Company in Brixham told : “We can’t give anybody a glass of water.
“It is affecting trade – a lot more people are just not coming out.”
Cryptosporidium is a parasite that can live in the intestines and faeces of infected humans and animals.
It can spread through swimming in or consuming contaminated water, but can also be passed on in food.
Speaking to , Professor Paul Hunter, a specialist in medical microbiology at the University of East Anglia, said water supplies could be impacted for at least a week.
And he warned “it’s not unusual to be ill for a month” with cryptosporidiosis, the disease caused by cryptosporidium.
RESERVOIR ‘DRAINED’
It comes as it was revealed on Thursday that an underground reservoir believed to be the cause of an outbreak may have to be completely drained, causing weeks of disruption for families.
Locals living near the Hillhead Reservoir say they have been warned by South West Water workers they will have to be switched onto alternative sources of water while the reservoir – which serves around 40,000 homes – is emptied
This afternoon, around a dozen vans from South West Water were lined up outside a pumping station where the outbreak is believed to have been detected earlier this week.
One local, James Martins, said: “We have been ill for weeks with vomiting, diarrhoea and headaches. We are still feeling bad on an off.
“My understanding is it will be days or weeks before the reservoir is fully drained and in the meantime we have to boil our water.”
Schools are also impacted, with Eden Park Primary and Nursery forced to shut today as a result of the contaminated water saga.
In a letter to parents they told how “running a school without drinking water in not possible”.
They added that staff “remain hopeful about opening again on Friday pending deliveries and the situation”.
It comes as victims of the illness have told how the symptoms are the “worst ever”.
Tanya Matthews, who lives in the Ocean View area, said every household on her street is displaying symptoms of the bug.
She told : “I started having stomach cramps and explosive diarrhoea nine days ago and it has been the same every day since.
How to tell if you've picked up cryptosporidium - plus, steps to avoid it
HUNDREDS of people in Devon have been struck down by a parasite that infiltrated the water supply.
The bug, cryptosporidium, commonly known as ‘crypto,’ can infect the digestive systems of both animals and people.
Most people recover, but some can become seriously ill, such as very young children and those with particularly weak immune systems.
What are the symptoms?
- Profuse watery diarrhoea
- Stomach pains
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Low-grade fever
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
- Weight loss
Symptoms usually last about two weeks but can be longer, especially in people with weak immune systems.
During the illness, you might think you are getting better and have shaken off the infection, but then it returns a couple of days later before you fully recover.
Take the following steps to protect yourself from the illness
The advice to people living in the affected area is to boil your drinking water and drink plenty to prevent becoming dehydrated – and stay away at home until it’s subsided.
Beyond the current outbreak, crypto can also be caught in lakes and swimming pools and contact with animal manure.
Therefore, you should always avoid swallowing water in lakes and swimming pools.
Catching it from animals is usually the most common way people become unwell, with a spike coming in spring when farms hold open days.
You should always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after working with, feeding, grooming or playing with pets and other animals.
How do I treat the illness?
There is no specific treatment for cryptosporidiosis.
Most people with a healthy immune system will recover within one month.
It’s important to drink plenty of fluids as diarrhoea or vomiting can lead to dehydration and you can lose important sugars and minerals from your body.
Cryptosporidiosis is highly infectious, so you need to be very clean around your home for at least 48 hours after your symptoms stop, so don’t return to work or school until that time has passed, don’t share towels or bedding and don’t prepare food for others.
You are infectious to other people while you are ill and have symptom
“I started to feel a little bit better yesterday then today [May 14] it hit me again.”
One person, who wanted to remain anonymous, said their symptoms left them thinking they had norovirus.
They added: “But as it went on for so long, I had to contact the doctors.
“It’s the worst illness I’ve ever experienced.
“I sent off a stool sample which came back as cryptosporidium which I had never heard off until I saw the post on Brixham Fish Town.”
There is no specific treatment for the bug, but sufferers are advised to drink plenty of fluids and re-hydrate.
South West Water's latest statement:
Customers in Alston and the Hillhead area of Brixham are advised to boil their drinking water before consuming following new test results for cryptosporidium.
We are issuing this notice following small traces of the organism identified overnight and this morning.
We are working with the UK Health Security Agency and other public health partners to urgently investigate and eliminate the source.
We apologise for the inconvenience caused and will continue to keep customers and businesses updated.
Bottled water stations will be set up in the affected areas as soon as possible.
South West Water confirmed on Wednesday that customers hit with a Boil Water Notice will be given an automatic £15 as a result of “interrupted” services.
It is not the first time a spike in cryptospordium has swept Britain.
Last year, a record 367 cases of the nasty bug were recorded during the week ending October 2.
A spokesperson from South West Water previously said: “We are aware of posts on social media regarding the quality of drinking water in the Brixham area and we would like to reassure customers that the water supply is fine to continue to use as normal.
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“We have carried out sampling and tests for cryptosporidium and all results have come back clear.
“We always carefully monitor our drinking water supplies and we are supporting the UK Health Security Agency with their investigations.”
Sarah Bird, Consultant in Health Protection at UKHSA South West said: “We advise people in the affected areas to follow the advice from South West Water and boil their drinking water and allow to cool before use.
“Anyone with a diarrhoeal illness should drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration and if they have severe symptoms like bloody diarrhoea, they should contact NHS111 or their GP surgery.
Take steps to protect you and your family
By Lizzie Parry, Head of Health
ANYONE who’s had a bout of norovirus will know how miserable a tummy bug can be.
In this case, the cause appears to be the Cryptosporidium parasite, a tiny organism that causes an illness known as cryptosporidiosis.
The bug can be found in the intestines and poo of infected humans and animals.
Anyone can fall sick but it’s most common in kids aged between one and five.
Other people at high risk include people who work with animals, people exposed to human faeces (parents changing nappies), and people who swim in open water.
That’s because you catch the bug from an infected person or animal by coming into contact with their faeces.
Other sources of infection include drinking or swimming in contaminated water, eating contaminated fresh food (unwashed or unpeeled veg or salads) and drinking contaminated raw milk.
Like norovirus, the symptoms can be really unpleasant, watery diarrhoea, stomach pains, nausea or vomiting, fever and a loss of appetite, which can lead to dehydration.
Symptoms tend to last for about two weeks but can ease off and reappear in that time.
The only way to know for sure if you’ve been infected – and to tell it from other tummy bugs – is to ask the doctor to test a stool sample.
Like other infectious bugs, there are things you can do to protect yourself and your family.
First and foremost, wash your hands thoroughly with warm soap and water before handling any food, after preparing raw food, after going to the loo or changing a baby’s nappy and after playing with, or looking after any animals – including your pets.
And if you, or a member of your family, catches the bug make sure you wash all dirty bedding and towels, avoid sharing towels, clean all bathrooms and avoid preparing food for others until you’ve been symptom-free for at least 48 hours.
It goes without saying that if you have symptoms avoid going into work or taking your children to school until you’ve been symptom-free for 48 hours too.
There’s no specific treatment, but most healthy people will recover within a month. The NHS notes it is important to drink lots of fluids to avoid dehydration.
If you are worried about your child, or you can’t seem to shrug off the bug it’s worth speaking to your GP – try filling out an online consultation form.
“Symptoms include: watery diarrhoea, stomach pains, dehydration, weight loss and fever, which can last for 2-3 weeks. Anyone can get cryptosporidiosis, but it is most common in young children aged between 1 and 5 years and most healthy people will recover fully.
“For most people, cryptosporidium symptoms can be managed at home without medical advice.
“Those affected should stay off school and work for 48hrs since the last episode of illness and away from swimming pools for 14 days after the last episode of illness.”
