Arizona: Phoenix pool closures due to Cryptosporidium

Posted: July 16th, 2008 - 12:40am by Michelle Mazur

Phoenix city officials have announced that all city pools will be closed after reports of 35 people who swam at Starlight Pool, including 14 from the pool staff, developing symptoms of cryptosporidium.

The city of Phoenix says that while the water at all of its pools has been tested and "has continued to meet all water quality standards," it is taking extra precautions.  To treat the pools, parks staff is super-chlorinating all of the pools to a level of 40 parts per million of chlorine and maintaining that level of chlorine for 40 hours. The Centers for Disease Control recommends 20 parts per million, but the City of Phoenix is using 40 parts per million to be safe.

Last summer Utah suffered an outbreak of cryptosporidium.  Colorado has also suffered outbreaks.  Hopefully this summer’s outbreak will be quickly contained and taken care of to avoid large numbers of sickness.

And of course, when using the bathroom at the pool, always wash your hands.
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Categories: Handwashing, Wacky and Weird
Tags: Cryptosporidium, Outbreak, Pool, Poop

Comments

Schlake says:

Cryptosporidium can live in a bottle of chlorox bleach for four hours. 40 hours at 40ppm just sounds like they are hoping for Noah or Moses to lead them out.

Posted on July 16th, 2008 - 9:50am

jodi says:

I am the mother of two boys that are currently undergoing treatment for this illness. It can be a killer if you have a compromised immune system. Please don't take this outbreak lightly.

Posted on July 17th, 2008 - 10:34am

Aggie says:

Good News...A drug by the name of Alinia (nitazoxinide)is FDA approved to treat Cryptosporidium...It's only a 3 day treatment and is indicated for kids and adults.

Posted on July 17th, 2008 - 7:51pm

Mary Tomlin says:

Where can I get my apartment complex's pool water tested?Thank youMary T

Posted on July 20th, 2008 - 2:10pm

Mary Tomlin says:

Where can I get my apartment complex's pool water tested?Thank youMary T

Posted on July 20th, 2008 - 2:11pm

Michelle Mazur says:

Mary Tomlin - To test the water of a community pool, you can simply take a glass of pool water to a nearby pool store. I'd recommend calling ahead to make sure they do it, but most pool stores will analyze water that is brought in to determine the chlorine concentration. I don't know if they analyze for crypto, but they should be able to recommend you to a place that will.

Posted on July 20th, 2008 - 4:40pm

Paul Nunes says:

Over 3000 people were made sick from crypto at a spraypark in Upstate NY in 2005. There is now a class action suit against the State alleging negligence maintenance among other things...

Posted on July 21st, 2008 - 4:26pm

Paul Fogle says:

Mary,I have developed a rapid test for Crypto and will be happy to test your pools water. I am currently working with Pool Supply Stores to distribute the test kits. You will need a pump to filter about 3 gallons of water and send the filter to my lab. Go to your local pool supply store and ask them if they will rent you a peristaltic pump. The kit is ~$30 for the collection kit. Let me know if you have more questions, or refer to the webpage attached.http://www.pathcon.com/variables/Cryptonite-Web.pdfPaul

Posted on July 21st, 2008 - 10:46pm

Lori Wilm says:

Washing your hands after using the bathroom is NOT enough for safe pool usage. Showering with hot water and soap is needed before entering the pool and after using the toliet during a swimming session.

Posted on July 31st, 2008 - 7:05am

instant immersion spanish says:

Cryptosporidium can live in a bottle of Clorox bleach for four hours??? That is scary! I can see that this story is a couple of years old. I can only assume that by now they have solved the problem. Does anyone have any details on how the recovery went? I'm just wondering if the 40 parts per million of chlorine actually worked, or did they have to get even more aggressive than that?

Posted on October 19th, 2010 - 3:49pm

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