County crypto cases to yield lessons, health official says
Douglas County’s bout with a persistent parasite could help lead to a rash of recommendations for helping health agencies across the country, a health official said Monday.
Kay Kent, administrator for the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, told county commissioners the lessons learned in Lawrence since July 24 could go a long way toward helping halt the spread of cryptosporidiosis. The illness, caused by the cryptosporidium parasite, sickened at least 86 county residents, as well as others in surrounding counties.
A team of four investigators from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta spent four weeks in the Lawrence area, searching for the source and path of the outbreak that is abating in Lawrence but has spread to neighboring counties.
The CDC officials left Monday, making them the third such team in 30 years to put a Lawrence outbreak under the microscope in the push for improved health. Previous outbreaks, Kent said, have involved whooping cough, mumps, giardia and syphilis.
“In both cases, recommendations came out of them being here that have not only helped us and our community, but the nation with dealing with these events, should they happen again,” Kent said.
“We expect the same thing will happen this time — that there will be recommendations that will be made that will actually help the nation in dealing with cryptosporidium outbreaks.”
The illness is caused by exposure to cryptosporidium, a one-celled parasite that attacks the digestive system and causes diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps. A person becomes infected after coming in contact with an infected surface, typically contact with another person, water or food.
Symptoms normally last two weeks or less, but the illness can be severe and even fatal for those with weakened immune systems.
Kent said that area residents should be vigilant about maintaining good hygiene. Among the most important things to remember:
- Thoroughly wash hands after going to the bathroom.
- Stay out of pools when afflicted with diarrhea, and within two weeks of the last bout with diarrhea.
- Keep all children suffering from diarrhea — even one case of loose or watery stool — out of day care centers.
“We are aware that this is difficult … but it is necessary for us to be aggressive to bring this outbreak under control,” Kent said.
Commissioners thanked Kent for her report, and offered her shelter from complaints that her department did not do enough to inform the public before the outbreak had spread.
Kent’s office received confirmation of its first cryptosporidiosis case July 24, but for a month limited its notification efforts only to swim teams, day-care centers and other operations thought to be at risk.
“She did exactly the right thing,” Commissioner Charles Jones said, noting that the commission was “strongly behind” Kent and her department.
“Absolutely — no doubt,” said Bob Johnson, commission chairman. “We’re squarely behind you.”
6News video: Crypto outbreak offers experts insights
Crypto outbreak spreads (9-20-03)
Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department Executive Director Kay Kent (9-5-03)City Government
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