ATLANTA — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says outbreaks of a parasitic infection linked to swimming pools are increasing, with twice as many outbreaks recorded in 2016 as in 2014. <br /> <br />Cryptosporidium, commonly known as Crypto, is a microscopic parasite that causes diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis. <br /> <br />Even in properly chlorinated water, the parasite can survive up to 10 days. Swallowing just a mouthful of water with Crypto can make healthy people sick for weeks. It can cause stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea and can lead to dehydration. <br /> <br />The only way to get rid of the parasite is by treating the water with extremely high levels of chlorine that are dangerous for swimmers. <br /> <br />“To help protect your family and friends from Crypto and other diarrhea-causing germs, do not swim or let your kids swim if sick with diarrhea,” said Michele Hlavsa, R.N., M.P.H., chief of CDC’s Healthy Swimming Program said in a press release. “Protect yourself from getting sick by not swallowing the water in which you swim.” <br /> <br />Ohio was one of the states with the most reported cases. A total of 1,940 people fell ill due to the infection in 2016.
