A woman who endured “six years of unnecessary torture” after being struck down by cryptosporidium is finally to get compensation.

Nicola Roberts (right), from Llangoed, Anglesey, was a happy and outgoing mum-of-three until she became one of 231 people affected by the bug after drinking tap water in November 2005.

Two years later Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water pleaded guilty to supplying water “unfit for human consumption.”

Dozens received compensation of between £1,300 and £5,000 after suffering symptoms like diarrhoea, stomach ache and fever for up to six weeks, others got more.

Nicola, who has just become a grandmother, is one of those still suffering six years on. She was initially offered £10,000 by Dr Cymru but refused it, claiming loss of earnings over six years. Her case was settled out of court before trial last week after Dwr Cymru improved its offer.

Nicola said: “They tested me and it was confirmed I had cryptosporidium. I was shocked. We weren’t told for about a month that the bug was in the water. It’s more embarrassing than anything else. I’m unable to go out anywhere. I’ve now got irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).”

An outbreak of cryptosporidium has prompted the Johnson County Health Department to ask people to stay out of swimming pools if they’ve had diarrhea recently.

In the past two weeks, the department has received reports of 35 cases of cryptosporidiosis, Nancy Tausz, the department’s disease containment director, told the Kansas City Star Friday.

Other cases have been reported recently in the area, Tausz said. And schools are seeing children returning to class with diarrhea, a key symptom, she said.

Shortly before Labor Day 2007, six subdivision swimming pools in Johnson County were linked to a significant crypto outbreak. Health officials suspected toddlers with full diapers were the chief culprits. The pools were reopened after being treated with massive amounts of chlorine.
 

Late in 2010, up to 11,000 people were sickened by cryptosporidium in Ostersund, Sweden.

Today, The Local is reporting as many as 1,500 inhabitants in the municipality of Skellefteå in northern Sweden have confirmed in a survey that they have experienced stomach flu symptoms probably caused by a parasite outbreak.

Results from tests of water samples following the parasite infection could be completed on Wednesday.

The web survey conducted by Skellefteå and the Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control (Smittskyddsinstitutet - SMI) had been answered by 2,300 residents of the municipality by Wednesday lunchtime. Of those around 60 percent, 1,500 people, confirmed that they experienced stomach flu symptoms since April 1st.

Many complained of having had abdominal pain, diarrhea or gassy stomachs.
The survey has confirmed theories that the stomach flu has probably been caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium could have originated in the municipal water supply, local authorities confirmed at a press conference in Skellefteå on Wednesday.

SMI's results on drinking water samples, expected at the latest on Thursday could be completed already Thursday afternoon.

Adelaide Now reports that 28 people carrying cryptosporidium may have infected public pools, but South Australia Health has issued no public warning.

Between January and March, SA Health was notified of 28 cases of cryptosporidium where the person reported swimming at a public pool.

SA Health asked seven swimming centres across the metropolitan area to decontaminate their pools to prevent transmission of the infection.

The Advertiser was alerted to the situation when it obtained a copy of a text message sent to members of the Adelaide Aquatic Centre advising them the pool would be closed for super-chlorination.

Adelaide City Council confirmed the Aquatic Centre was aware an infected person had used the pool.

An SA Health spokesman said, "This is within the normal levels we would expect to see - there has certainly been no spike. If there were large numbers then we would issue a public alert.

"SA Health emphasises the importance of observing hand hygiene and people with diarrhoea not sharing baths or swimming in public pools for 14 days after their symptoms have stopped."