A play area at a New York state park, meant to give children healthy fun and frolic, splashing among water jets and sprinkle showers, has actually resulted in the reverse, with over 1800 taking ill over three weeks with severe intestinal illness. The brief escape from the summer heat at Geneva’s Seneca Lake State Park Sprayground proved costly, as they contracted a very contagious waterborne infection called cryptosporidiosis.
Though none of those infected are believed to be critically ill, the outbreak has given New York State the dubious distinction of having its largest cryptosporidiosis infection in many years as against the typical 500 cases reported yearly. But this was nothing compared to the worst ever outbreak that took Milwaukee by surprise in 1993, affecting nearly 400,000, with a few fatalities. Meanwhile, the Sprayground, which attracts over 40,000 trying to escape the sweltering August heat every year, was sealed on Monday by the health authorities. Tests performed on the water stored in a tank that feeds the Sprayground, yielded positive for the parasite cryptosporidium, despite having chlorination and filtration systems in place.
Wendy Gibson of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, said that a beach in the park would remain open, as it was believed that only the tank showed indications of contamination. However, Health officials differed in saying that that the extent of contamination was still undetermined and that water in drinking water fountains besides the park’s other areas would need testing before being cleared of contamination.
Cryptosporidiosis, one of the commonest causes of traveler's diarrhea, was first noted in the United States in the early 70's, and primarily spreads through contaminated food and water supplies. Once into the human body, the parasite gets lodged in the intestines to produce eggs over 2 to 10 days, causing abdominal cramps, vomiting and diarrhea besides fever. The parasite then passes out through contaminated stool, survives for long periods outside the body, resistant to common chlorine-based disinfectants. Though not deadly the infections last about a week before going away.
Health officials requested those who visited the park recently to be alert to the problem, consulting doctors should they experience stomach-related ailments. They suggested that those suspect of the infection, be isolated and maintain high standards of personal hygiene as many of the infections were reported in groups and in families.
Of the infections, the largest group pertained to Ontario County followed by Tompkins County. Ms. Gibson, explaining the outbreak’s size to the popularity of the 11,000 square feet Sprayground said, "The beauty of it is that it is pretty accessible for people and doesn't involve a pool. It's a whole series of sprinklers". With few initial reports dating back to June, the park remaining open through July had compounded the infection. But luckily the infection that goes away after causing havoc for about a week is contagious but not fatal.
