Cryptosporidium health alert issued after outbreak in UK town

woman with stomach ache
The UK Health Security Agency is investigating the outbreak -Credit:InYourArea


A health alert has been issued in a UK seaside town after 'hundreds' of people have fallen ill.

The outbreak is being investigated after 'hundreds' of people have presented with symptoms consistent with cryptosporidium infection. The illness is characterized by severe watery diarrhoea, intense stomach pains, vomiting or nausea, mild fevers, and loss of appetite, lasting one to two weeks.

'Hundreds' of Brixham, Devon residents have reportedly fallen ill, based on multiple posts on social media which has since prompted an investigation by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), although they have not yet confirmed details of the outbreak, according to Devon Live.

READ MORE: Merseyside Police inspector who had sex in Screwfix car park banned from policing

READ MORE: Girl, 3, died after turning taps on while she had a bath

Despite concerns, South West Water (SWW) has assured that water quality tests in Brixham have returned clear results.

Cryptosporidium, a parasite found in the intestines and faeces of infected humans and animals, can be transmitted through contaminated water or food.

A South West Water spokesperson commented on the situation: "We are aware of posts on social media regarding the quality of drinking water in the Brixham area and we would like to reassure customers that the water supply is fine to continue to use as normal. We have carried out sampling and tests for cryptosporidium and all results have come back clear.

"We always carefully monitor our drinking water supplies and we are supporting the UK Health Security Agency with their investigations" reports the Manchester Evening News.

The exact number of cryptosporidium cases remains unclear, however Higher Brixham appears to be particularly affected by the outbreak.

Tanya Matthews, a resident of Ocean View in the impacted area, reported that every household on her street is suffering from similar symptoms. South West Water (SWW) carried out a water quality test at her property this morning, May 14, with results expected the following day.

Enduring nine days of abdominal pain and diarrhoea while waiting for a cryptosporidium test result, Tanya disclosed: "I started having stomach cramps and explosive diarrhoea nine days ago and it has been the same every day since. I started to feel a little bit better yesterday then today [May 14] it hit me again."

"I rang SWW yesterday [May 13] and I was told there had been 15 confirmed cases of cryptosporidium and that UKHSA are looking into it as they don't believe it's to do with the water. They wouldn't expect this many cases over a whole year for all of Devon and Cornwall so something is amiss. SWW asked if I had been in the sea or a river but I have not. I also think the water tastes funny and it has been leaving a horrid taste in my mouth."

On May 13, Tanya took to Brixham Fish Town's Facebook page to see how widespread the issue was. Her post exploded with activity, racking up over 1,000 comments from locals who reported similar health issues.

She said: "I posted about it to see how many other people may have/had these symptoms without realising and thinking it's just a tummy bug. I know some people have been to GPs and been told they have food poisoning which most likely is not the case so have not been asked for a sample to have it tested."

"When SWW came out today they told me they don't think it's the water. I don't know how that's possible when every house in our street has someone who is ill. So many people are sick in the area. My husband has it too. My son is doing his GCSE's and I'm worried about what happens if he gets poorly too."

Kayley Lewis, from Ocean Drive, recounted the harrowing experience her family endured during the health scare. She said: "My eldest son Jacob was the first one of us to be poorly. He ended up in hospital overnight with severe dehydration on May 5. I then started to feel unwell on May 6 and had awful stomach pains and watery diarrhoea lasting six days."

"My other son Oscar is doing his SATS exams this week but I am having to drop him off just to sit his exam and then pick him up due to him still having diarrhoea and cramps. Both my boys have missed a lot of school due to it too. My youngest daughter Daisy has only had stomach cramps. I took in my sample this morning to the doctors and they have said every sample is now going to a team that is investigating."

An anonymous Hillhead, Brixham local shared their ordeal after being struck down by cryptosporidium, saying: "I've been bed-bound for eight days with sickness and diarrhoea and have been signed off work for two weeks and lost over a stone in weight. It's the worst illness I've ever experienced."

"I originally thought it was noravirus but as it went on for so long, I had to contact the doctors. I sent off a stool sample which came back as cryptosporidium which I had never heard off until I saw the post on Brixham Fish Town. I phoned SWW who said it was the first they had heard of it even though everyone has been phoning."

"Public health have told me I'll be getting a phone call from environmental health but we are still waiting. It seems the majority of people affected are from Hillhead and Higher Brixham."

Dean James, who resides on Northfields Lane in Furzeham, has reported that his family has been struggling with illness since last Saturday, May 11, which has disrupted their daily routines and work commitments. He shared: "It has not been a nice experience. We have had diarrhoea and vomiting, severe stomach cramps, high temperature and gunning a fever. My partner and I are both off work and have no sick pay; my partner has no sick pay for the first three days and I'm self-employed. All this when we are experiencing a high cost of living.''

"Some of my neighbours have become suddenly unwell. We have been told to ring public health and report cases and also to boil all water for drinking. Looking at Facebook, cases are now appearing all over Brixham and starting to appear in Paignton too."

An anonymous resident from Brixham also conveyed their ordeal, stating: "My whole family - myself, my partner and my two children - have been affected. We have had diarrhoea, stomach cramps and vomiting for more than 10 days, as have many people on our street including several diagnosed cases of cryptosporidium."

Residents in Higher Brixham have been voicing their concerns about a mysterious illness sweeping through households, with one local stating: "It seems to be mainly affecting people in households in Higher Brixham. Whenever you phone SWW, they make out they've only had a 'couple' of reports about it which I know is false. I spoke to our GP at Mayfield Surgery who confirms they have had many cases and have reported it to the relevant authorities as it is so prevalent."

Totnes MP Anthony Mangnall has recognised the surge of sickness reports in Brixham and is on the case, informing residents on Facebook: "I have been made aware of current concerns regarding the quality of drinking water in Brixham and have been making enquiries. South West Water have reassured me that they are supporting the UK Health Security Agency with their investigations, and have stated that constituents can continue to use their water supply as normal."

Mangnall further relayed information from South West Water (SWW) about the safety measures in place: "SWW carefully monitors drinking water supplies, and cryptosporidium is monitored continuously in the final drinking water from the supplying treatment facility. To confirm, all recent test results for cryptosporidium have come back clear. I will provide further updates when possible."

Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here