CDC Warns of Dangerous Pool Parasites This Summer

The Centers for Disease Control has advised swimmers to take a shower before jumping into a swimming pool to avoid the spread chlorine resistant pathogen cryptosporidium.

The hardy parasite is being cited as the major cause of outbreaks in treated water which includes swimming pools and hot tubs.

While the norovirus and E.coli are killed within hours in treated water, cryptosporidium can survive in the water for up to 10 days and may cause gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea.

Between 2011 and 2012, there were more than 90 outbreaks in the US which led to 1,788 people being diagnosed with the infection. Ninety five people required hospitalization and one person died during the outbreak.

77 of these outbreaks were found to originate in places with treated water such as swimming pools and spas.

"This parasite is extremely chlorine-resistant," Michele Hlavsa, an epidemiologist at the CDC, said, "Swimmers bring it into the water when they are sick with diarrhea."

"Since 1988, the year that the first U.S. treated recreational water-associated outbreak of Cryptosporidium was detected, the number of these outbreaks reported annually has significantly increased," said the scientists in their report.

Hlavsa also said that the parasite usually takes 2 to 3 weeks to be cleared from the body but may prove to be fatal for people who have a weakened immune system.

"With these outbreaks, we see they disproportionately affect young children," Hlavasa said, "They're the ones who can go to a pool and young children tend to carry lots of germs."

CDC advises pool users to properly shower before entering the pool. People have also been advised against swallowing treated water.

Users should also refrain from either urinating or defecating in the water to avoid spread of the parasite. Those who are already suffering from diarrhea should be discouraged from entering the water altogether.