Recreational Water Illness

This document contains a flowchart that illustrates the steps that should be taken during a Cryptosporidium investigation.

This document contains Two different 8.5 x 11 posters in both English and Spanish, a total of 4 posters to print and display at public pools.

This brochure was created by the CDC and explains how to protect yourself and your family against Recreational Water Illness. It provides three simple steps for water safety, reminds people that they share pool water with everyone and that it is not drinking water, has separate sections inside for swimmers and parents, and even provides details about crypto, E. coli, and how diarrheal illness spreads.

Water samples can be tested for pathogens such as Cryptosporidium. These samples can then potentially be linked to clinical isolates from individuals who visited a recreational water venue associated with cluster of cases. Collecting a sample of the backwash from a pool filter is ideal because it increases the chances of detecting the parasite if it was present during the previous filter run.

Cryptosporidium (or “Crypto”) is a chlorine resistant parasite, so even well-maintained pools, water parks, and interactive fountains can spread Crypto among swimmers. If an outbreak of Crypto infections occurs in your community, the health department might ask you to hyperchlorinate.

Cryptosporidiosis is a gastrointestinal illness, caused by the parasite, Cryptosporidium. This disease is a common cause of diarrhea in children, especially in child care settings. The hallmark symptom of cryptosporidiosis is watery diarrhea, which might be accompanied by stomach ache, nausea and vomiting, fever, and a general sick feeling.

This short single page (double-sided) quiz asks a series of true/false questions and provides answers on the back. It covers topics such as whether or not chlorine kills cryptosporidium quickly, the effect of swallowing pool water that has crypto in it, practical ways to keep you and the pool safe, and much more.

This fact sheet is available in both English and Spanish. It explains what Cryptosporidium is, why you should be concerned about it, how it is spread, and how to protect yourself and your family.

Hoja Informativa de Cryptosporidium

Outbreak and case reporting data for cryptosporidiosis document increases in transmission of the parasite, Cryptosporidium, over the last 2 decades. This is in part due to the parasite’s low infectious dose, potential for zoonotic transmission, presence in the natural environment, small size that challenges water filtration systems, and its high resistance to chlorine disinfection.

Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrheal disease caused by microscopic parasites, Cryptosporidium, that can live in the intestine of humans and animals and is passed in the stool of an infected person or animal. Both the disease and the parasite are commonly known as "Crypto." The parasite is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive outside the body for long periods of time and makes it very resistant to chlorine-based disinfectants.

This presentation was created by the CDC and covers a wide range of topics including what recreational water illness is, diarrheal illness, fecal contamination of recreational water, and pool operation and maintenance. It also provides a number of supporting data graphs and charts.