A SCHOOL has been forced to SHUT after hundreds of people were struck down with a diarrohea bug caused by contaminated tap water
Residents across Brixham, Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland and North East Paignton in Devon must boil their tap water after a horror waterborne parasite was found in the supply.
The UK Health Security Agency is investigating 22 cases of cryptosporidium in South Devon – with hundreds more feared ill.
Residents and visitors alike are experiencing grim symptoms including watery diarrhoea, stomach pains, nausea or vomiting, a mild fever, and loss of appetite.
Now Eden Park Primary and Nursery has been forced to shut their doors today as a result.
In a letter to parents they told how “running a school without drinking water in not possible”.
They added that staff “remain hopeful about opening again on Friday pending deliveries and the situation”.
It comes as victims of the illness have told how the symptoms are the “worst ever”.
Resident Tanya Matthews, who lives in the Ocean View area, said every household on her street is displaying symptoms of the bug.
She told DevonLive: “I started having stomach cramps and explosive diarrhoea nine days ago and it has been the same every day since.
“I started to feel a little bit better yesterday then today [May 14] it hit me again.”
Cryptosporidium is a parasite that can live in the intestines and faeces of infected humans and animals.
It can spread through swimming in or consuming contaminated water, but can also be passed on in food.
One person who wanted to remain anonymous thought they had norovirus, adding: “But as it went on for so long, I had to contact the doctors.
“It’s the worst illness I’ve ever experienced.
“I sent off a stool sample which came back as cryptosporidium which I had never heard off until I saw the post on Brixham Fish Town.”
There is no specific treatment for the bug, but sufferers are advised to drink plenty of fluids and re-hydrate.
Customers in Alston and the Hillhead area of Brixham are advised to boil their drinking water before consuming following new test results for cryptosporidium.
We are issuing this notice following small traces of the organism identified overnight and this morning.
We are working with the UK Health Security Agency and other public health partners to urgently investigate and eliminate the source.
We apologise for the inconvenience caused and will continue to keep customers and businesses updated.
Bottled water stations will be set up in the affected areas as soon as possible.
South West Water confirmed on Wednesday that customers hit with a Boil Water Notice will be given an automatic £15 as a result of “interrupted” services.
It is not the first time a spike in cryptospordium has swept Britain.
Last year, a record 367 cases of the nasty bug were recorded during the week ending October 2.
A spokesperson from South West Water previously said: “We are aware of posts on social media regarding the quality of drinking water in the Brixham area and we would like to reassure customers that the water supply is fine to continue to use as normal.
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“We have carried out sampling and tests for cryptosporidium and all results have come back clear.
“We always carefully monitor our drinking water supplies and we are supporting the UK Health Security Agency with their investigations.”
Sarah Bird, Consultant in Health Protection at UKHSA South West said: “We advise people in the affected areas to follow the advice from South West Water and boil their drinking water and allow to cool before use.
“Anyone with a diarrhoeal illness should drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration and if they have severe symptoms like bloody diarrhoea, they should contact NHS111 or their GP surgery.
By Lizzie Parry, Head of Health
ANYONE who’s had a bout of norovirus will know how miserable a tummy bug can be.
In this case, the cause appears to be the Cryptosporidium parasite, a tiny organism that causes an illness known as cryptosporidiosis.
The bug can be found in the intestines and poo of infected humans and animals.
Anyone can fall sick but it’s most common in kids aged between one and five.
Other people at high risk include people who work with animals, people exposed to human faeces (parents changing nappies), and people who swim in open water.
That’s because you catch the bug from an infected person or animal by coming into contact with their faeces.
Other sources of infection include drinking or swimming in contaminated water, eating contaminated fresh food (unwashed or unpeeled veg or salads) and drinking contaminated raw milk.
Like norovirus, the symptoms can be really unpleasant, watery diarrhoea, stomach pains, nausea or vomiting, fever and a loss of appetite, which can lead to dehydration.
Symptoms tend to last for about two weeks but can ease off and reappear in that time.
The only way to know for sure if you’ve been infected – and to tell it from other tummy bugs – is to ask the doctor to test a stool sample.
Like other infectious bugs, there are things you can do to protect yourself and your family.
First and foremost, wash your hands thoroughly with warm soap and water before handling any food, after preparing raw food, after going to the loo or changing a baby’s nappy and after playing with, or looking after any animals – including your pets.
And if you, or a member of your family, catches the bug make sure you wash all dirty bedding and towels, avoid sharing towels, clean all bathrooms and avoid preparing food for others until you’ve been symptom-free for at least 48 hours.
It goes without saying that if you have symptoms avoid going into work or taking your children to school until you’ve been symptom-free for 48 hours too.
There’s no specific treatment, but most healthy people will recover within a month. The NHS notes it is important to drink lots of fluids to avoid dehydration.
If you are worried about your child, or you can’t seem to shrug off the bug it’s worth speaking to your GP – try filling out an online consultation form.
“Symptoms include: watery diarrhoea, stomach pains, dehydration, weight loss and fever, which can last for 2-3 weeks. Anyone can get cryptosporidiosis, but it is most common in young children aged between 1 and 5 years and most healthy people will recover fully.
“For most people, cryptosporidium symptoms can be managed at home without medical advice.
“Those affected should stay off school and work for 48hrs since the last episode of illness and away from swimming pools for 14 days after the last episode of illness.”
