A RISE in cryptosporidium infections in the Hunter has triggered a warning from NSW health authorities urging the public to say out of swimming pools and splash parks if they have diarrhoea.
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A total of 149 cases of cryptosporidiosis were detected so far this month. More than half the cases were children under 10 years old.
Some 53 cases were detected in Sydney's metropolitan, including 17 in northern Sydney, 12 in south eastern Sydney, 11 in Nepean Blue Mountains areas, six in south-western Sydney, four in western Sydney and three in the city.
Another 52 cases were detected in the Hunter New England area.
There have been 143 reported cases across NSW in 2016 so far.
A massive cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Sydney in 1998 was marked by more than 1000 confirmed cases. Sydneysiders were forced to boil their water after it was found to be infected by the pathogens cryptosporidium and giardia.
Cryptosporidiosis is caused by a parasitic infection of the intestine that is easily spread in swimming pools and from person to person or, less commonly, via drinking contaminated water or handling infected animals said Director of Health Protection NSW, Dr Jeremy McAnulty.
The most common symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes fever, nausea and vomiting.
There is no specific treatment for the condition and symptoms may last a few weeks in some people.
"Only a very small proportion of people are ever diagnosed with cryptosporidiosis, as diagnosis requires a stool test through a doctor. So anyone with the symptoms should help protect other swimmers by staying out of pools for at least two weeks after the diarrhoea has stopped," Dr McAnulty said.
NSW Health recommended the public, including parents of young children avoid contaminating pools and splash parks by:
Not swimming or allowing children with diarrhoea to swim in a pool for at least two weeks after diarrhoea resolves
Taking children on bathroom breaks often
Ensuring children who are not toilet-trained wear waterproof tight-fitting pants over swimmers
Changing nappies in a bathroom and not at the poolside as germs can spread to surfaces or objects in and around the pool and spread illness
Washing children thoroughly (especially on the bottom) with soap and water before going swimming
Washing hands with soap and water after changing a child's nappy.
Water splash parks have become a summer hit among families with young children, but their rapid spread across Sydney has raised public health concerns about contaminated water and diarrhoea outbreaks.
In November the Baird government announced plans to change the Public Health Act to make clear Sydney's new splash parks and interactive water fountains are included in the definition of a public swimming pool.
