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The latest details of the cryptosporidiosis outbreak – mainly around Salou – come as schools are closed for half term next week and some families will travel abroad.
The Health Protection Surveillance Center (HPSC) said earlier this month that there was a widespread increase in cryptosporidiosis in August and September and that increasing numbers of Irish holidaymakers were returning with illnesses gastrointestinal problems, including symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting.
A spokeswoman said yesterday that as of October 25, there had been 44 laboratory-confirmed cases of cryptosporidiosis since August, associated with travel to Salou.
Twenty ill people were not laboratory-confirmed cases of cryptosporidiosis.
There have been five hospitalized cases linked to the outbreak and no deaths.
The most common symptom is diarrhea. Some people may also experience dehydration, lose weight, stomach cramps, fever, nausea and vomiting, while others may not have any symptoms.
Symptoms usually last between one and two weeks.
Although it is a mild illness in healthy people, it can get worse in young children and the elderly, and can be very serious in people who are immunocompromised.
The advice is that if you are traveling to an area where there may be outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses, including cryptosporidiosis, take steps regarding water and food to protect you and your family to reduce the risk of infection abroad and of spread on your return to Ireland. .
Wash your hands frequently with soap and clean water before eating and drinking, before and after preparing food, especially raw meat, after using the toilet or changing diapers, after visited food markets, after touching objects in public places and after touching live animals. .
The virus can spread among swimmers in swimming pools, even well-maintained ones with chlorine.
Check to see if your tap water is treated and smell it for the whitening odor of chlorine.
Ask your accommodation manager if they consider tap water safe.
When in doubt, avoid drinking tap water as much as possible. Don’t use ice in your drinks, and if you’re not happy drinking water, don’t brush your teeth with it – use bottled water instead.
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