K A S H R U T . C O M_©

Outbreak of Parasitic Infection in Boro Park and Williamsburg

October 29, 2019 - from Hamodia:

"A parasitic infection has been spreading in Boro Park and Williamsburg, and health officials are urging extreme care in hand washing and hygienic practices."

"Cryptosporidiosis, sometimes simply called crypto, is a parasitic infection, resulting in diarrhea that lasts for 1-2 weeks, and often including stomachache, low-grade fever, and dehydration. Most of those infected will recover on their own; for those with weakened immune systems, doctors may prescribe medication."

"Health Department officials say the outbreak, which came from upstate New York, has reached 43 cases in in Boro Park and Williamsburg since the end of July. New York City typically sees around 300 cases of crypto per year."

"Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, Deputy Commissioner of Disease Control, says some of the increase may be attributed to more advanced testing that can diagnose the parasite."

"The parasite is transmitted person to person, from fecal-to-oral transmission, and may be spread by improper hand-washing following bathroom use; when the infected person touches others or food they eat, the parasite may spread to those people. (Crypto can also be food-borne, but the current outbreak is person-to-person.)"

"For most people with normal immune systems, doctors will simply direct them to keep hydrated, and possibly take anti-diarrheal medication."

"People with any sort of diarrhea should never visit pools or recreation centers."

"You should never go to a pool or mikvah – even if it is chlorinated - while you are having diarrhea,” says Daskalakis. 'But if you are diagnosed with crypto or any other infectious diarrhea, you should not go to a pool or mikvahs for a couple of weeks after the diarrhea ends.'"