No new cases of cryptosporidium were reported Saturday, but scores of test results are pending, according to the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department.

Since Wednesday night hundreds of people have been called and asked to come to the Health Department to get stool specimen sample cans, director Kay Kent said. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment will test returned specimens for the parasite.

Friday, Kent said the number of confirmed cryptosporidium cases by the department was 22. Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that causes diarrhea, stomach cramps, upset stomach and a slight fever.

Health officials still haven’t determined where or how the parasite originated in Lawrence.

Surveys were sent out to students and parents of local schools and many have been returned. Health workers have called those who reported on the surveys they had diarrhea to ask them to come in and get the specimen cans. Hundreds of have responded, Kent said.

She urged parents who have not returned the surveys to do so at their child’s school on Tuesday.

The Health Department will be open from noon to 5 p.m. today to give out the specimen cans and receive them and again from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Kent said.

Officials with the federal Centers for Disease Control and KDHE are in Lawrence assisting local health officials.

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