Spike in cases of crypto in region, but no link found
Officials are seeing more than three times the number of cryptosporidiosis cases than usual in Canterbury, and it’s likely to be just the tip of the iceberg.
The sharp rise in the first three months of the year – more than triple the usual number of cases - is unusual, Medical Officer of Health Cheryl Brunton said.
There were five notified crypto cases in Canterbury in October, 10 in November and three in December, but 19 reported in January, 39 in Feburary and 40 last month.
Public health authorities are only notified once someone’s symptoms have been severe enough for them to see their GP and have a faecal test done.
In about half of the reported cases, peo- ple reported visiting pools, beaches, rivers or lakes, but no single location has been found, Brunton said.
The microscopic cryptosporidium parasite is transmitted via “the faecal-oral route” directly from contact with infected people or animals – or from consuming contaminated water or food.
The most common symptoms – which can range from moderate to severe – are diarrhoea, stomach cramps, fever, vomiting and abdominal pain. Some people can have no symptoms, while those with compromised immune systems can be at serious risk.
According to the Centre for Disease
Control, an infected person can remain infectious for weeks after symptoms subside.
Te Whatu Ora’s National Public Health Service (NPHS) and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) were carrying out “enhanced surveillance,” Brunton said. NPHS was directly interviewing each person and entering data in a national surveillance database, she said.
Te Whatu Ora had informed the council six people had visited itspools during their incubation period over a six-week period, Christchurch City Council head of recreation Nigel Cox said.
Following site inspections in late March, no crypto was found in council pools, and Te Whatu Ora was confident in the council’s water treatment processes, Cox said.
An outbreak in late 2023 wreaked havoc in Queenstown as authorities raced to identify the source, causing weeks of boil water notices, disruption to the hospitality industry and over 70 confirmed cases.
People should avoid swimming places for at least two weeks after diarrhoea or other crypto symptoms.
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