Water-borne disease cryptosporidium confirmed in Brixham

The UK Health Security Agency has confirmed 16 cases of cryptosporidium, a diarrhoea-type illness caused by a parasite. 

They also said that they have not yet found the source of the illness, to which at least 70 people were displaying symptoms, with more cases anticipated. 

Cryptosporidium is found in lakes, streams and rivers, untreated drinking water and sometimes in swimming pools.

You can get cryptosporidiosis from either swimming or drinking contaminated water, or eating contaminated food.

South West Water has said that it has tested the water supply and found no traces of the water-bourne disease.

In a statement, it said: "We have reviewed the operation of our water treatment works and the water quality data from those sites, which show us there have been no issues with the treated water.

“As agreed today with public health partners, we are carrying out further monitoring of the local supply area and we’ll continue working closely with them on their investigation."

This hasn't stopped many residents from boiling their water or only drinking bottled water.

The most common symptoms are watery diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pains, and fever which may only last a couple of days, but which can continue for up to three or four weeks. It can affect people with weak immune systems for much longer.

Tanya Matthews, who lives in Brixham, said: "A lot of people in Brixham have been ill recently, and still ill. Myself being one of them.

"Stomach cramps, diarrhoea soon after eating, vomiting are all symptoms. I am now on day eight.

"There have been 17 confirmed cases of cryptosporidiosis so far, within a few streets of Brixham. They wouldn't expect this many cases over a whole year for the whole of Devon and Cornwall. So something is amiss. It is currently being investigated by the health authorities to see if they can find the source."

Tanya's post currently has over a thousand comments, hundreds of which are others confirming they have also either been diagnosed with cryptosporidiosis or are displaying symptoms. Some are from outside of Brixham.

Another post read: "My whole family have had this for the past week or two. I didn't think it was a bug as we are quite an 'isolated' family with limited social contact."

Pets have apparently also been falling ill.