Montana sees increase in water-borne illness

HELENA – State officials say cases of cryptosporidiosis, a water-borne diarrhea disease, have grown nearly fivefold this year.

Montana typically sees about 12 cases of the disease a year, said state epidemiologist Todd Damrow. But about 50 cases have been diagnosed, mostly among teenagers and younger children, this year.

The disease, commonly known as crypto, is spread through the fecal matter of people and animals. Crypto usually causes watery diarrhea, but can also cause fever, vomiting, stomach cramps, nausea, dehydration and weight loss.

The disease can be spread a number of ways but is most often associated with swallowing contaminated public recreation water, like water in swimming pools.

Damrow and Janet Stetzer, of the Food and Consumer Safety Section of the state health department, attribute the increase to an increase in the disease nationwide and hotter-than-normal summer temperatures, which drove thousands of people to pools and water parks.

Stetzer encouraged parents to keep an eye on their children and warn them not to drink public recreation water.

She said parents should be particularly mindful of splash parks, a popular attraction in many city parks around the state that feature giant splash fountains. Many parents think the water is fresh from the tap, but it is not, she said.

“That is water that has already been recirculated through the swimmers and bathers,” she said. “You wouldn’t consider drinking bathtub water, but that’s basically what they’re doing.”

Damrow cautioned that the disease can also be picked up at lakes, ponds and rivers.