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UK to monitor new disease alert system launched in the United States
British swimming pool manufacturers have promised to monitor a revolutionary new system in the United States which will act as an early warning system for outbreaks of disease in swimming pools. A similar scheme might be introduced in Britain if enough support is received.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Swimming Pool Foundation have established a Crypto Outbreak Alert System to help aquatic facilities protect the public from recreational water illness. During the past two decades, crypto has become recognized as one of the most common causes of waterborne disease in the United States.
The system is relatively simple. It focuses on building awareness of the risk and revealing prevention strategies. When CDC and NSPF learn of an outbreak, the pool federation will broadcast a regional email and will also send alerts to national and regional organisations who request they be notified of any outbreak.
Though containment is critical, prevention is paramount; the alerts focus on both. Each alert will include the general location of the outbreak and a link to the Toolkit. The Toolkit includes posters and brochures that facilities can print for free to educate consumers about not swimming when they have had diarrhea. In addition, there are documents to educate facility personnel about crypto and how to treat water that may be contaminated.
Previous outbreak investigations have shown that when a pool is contaminated and the pool is closed, patrons will go to other facilities and unknowingly contaminate them too. The result is the outbreak spreads when pools are closed and consumers are not educated. Crypto is spread from diarrhea of ill people. Thus, it is important to educate patrons and employees to stay out of the water if they have or recently had diarrhea.
Cryptosporidiosis is a gastrointestinal illness which causes diarrhea, stomach aches, vomiting, dehydration and other symptoms. Most people who have healthy immune systems will recover without treatment. Symptoms can be particularly severe with young children, the elderly, and people who are immune-compromised. Unfortunately, many aquatics managers are not aware of cryptosporidiosis outbreaks when they occur in their community and what to do if it happens in their pool. This new Alert system is designed to increase communication between the aquatics industry and public health and decrease the knowledge gap on how to fight crypto.
Based on crypto’s resistance to chlorine, it is not surprising that the number and severity of documented outbreaks have been increasing for over a decade. It is widely acknowledged that many outbreaks are not identified, reported, or investigated. Beginning this year, state health departments will use a more convenient electronic reporting system to notify of outbreaks under investigation. When other reporting systems, like food, have been converted from paper to electronic systems, the number of documented outbreaks has increased. Thus, 2008 is likely to see an increase in documented outbreaks unless effective prevention strategies are implemented.
To read more information on the system click here.
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UK to monitor new disease alert system launched in the United States
British swimming pool manufacturers have promised to monitor a revolutionary new system in the United States which will act as an early warning system for outbreaks of disease in swimming pools. A similar scheme might be introduced in Britain if enough support is received.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Swimming Pool Foundation have established a Crypto Outbreak Alert System to help aquatic facilities protect the public from recreational water illness. During the past two decades, crypto has become recognized as one of the most common causes of waterborne disease in the United States.
The system is relatively simple. It focuses on building awareness of the risk and revealing prevention strategies. When CDC and NSPF learn of an outbreak, the pool federation will broadcast a regional email and will also send alerts to national and regional organisations who request they be notified of any outbreak.
Though containment is critical, prevention is paramount; the alerts focus on both. Each alert will include the general location of the outbreak and a link to the Toolkit. The Toolkit includes posters and brochures that facilities can print for free to educate consumers about not swimming when they have had diarrhea. In addition, there are documents to educate facility personnel about crypto and how to treat water that may be contaminated.
Previous outbreak investigations have shown that when a pool is contaminated and the pool is closed, patrons will go to other facilities and unknowingly contaminate them too. The result is the outbreak spreads when pools are closed and consumers are not educated. Crypto is spread from diarrhea of ill people. Thus, it is important to educate patrons and employees to stay out of the water if they have or recently had diarrhea.
Cryptosporidiosis is a gastrointestinal illness which causes diarrhea, stomach aches, vomiting, dehydration and other symptoms. Most people who have healthy immune systems will recover without treatment. Symptoms can be particularly severe with young children, the elderly, and people who are immune-compromised. Unfortunately, many aquatics managers are not aware of cryptosporidiosis outbreaks when they occur in their community and what to do if it happens in their pool. This new Alert system is designed to increase communication between the aquatics industry and public health and decrease the knowledge gap on how to fight crypto.
Based on crypto’s resistance to chlorine, it is not surprising that the number and severity of documented outbreaks have been increasing for over a decade. It is widely acknowledged that many outbreaks are not identified, reported, or investigated. Beginning this year, state health departments will use a more convenient electronic reporting system to notify of outbreaks under investigation. When other reporting systems, like food, have been converted from paper to electronic systems, the number of documented outbreaks has increased. Thus, 2008 is likely to see an increase in documented outbreaks unless effective prevention strategies are implemented.
To read more information on the system click here.
<< Back to home | Previous story >>