Yahoo News Investigation after 'hundreds' fall ill with stomach bug in Devon town
Hundreds of people in a Devon town have reportedly fallen ill, prompting an investigation to be launched into a suspected outbreak of cryptosporidium.
People in Brixham have taken to social media to highlight the issue. The illness is characterised by symptoms such as severe watery diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea or vomiting, slight fever, and loss of appetite, typically lasting one to two weeks. Leading the investigation is the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), but it has not yet confirmed any specific details regarding the outbreak.
South West Water (SWW) has said it is aware of the posts on social media and assured that their tests on Brixham's drinking water quality have returned clear results, reports DevonLive.
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Cryptosporidium, which can be present in the bowels and faeces of infected humans and animals, may spread through contaminated water or food, among other means.
In response to concerns raised online about Brixham's water quality, a spokesperson for South West Water stated: "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."
The exact number of cryptosporidium cases in the area remains unconfirmed, but the Brixham Fish Town community Facebook page is abuzz with residents reporting symptoms. There's also a growing number of similar reports from Paignton locals on Facebook.
DevonLive has heard from numerous Brixham locals who've been under the weather for several days, expressing how it's affecting their daily lives. A significant number of these cases appear to be concentrated in Higher Brixham.
Tanya Matthews, a resident of Ocean View in Higher Brixham, alleges that every household on her street is experiencing identical symptoms. South West Water (SWW) conducted a water quality test at her property on May 14, with results expected the following day.
Suffering from stomach cramps and diarrhoea for nine days, Tanya, who is awaiting a cryptosporidium test result, shared: "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."
She added, after contacting SWW on May 13: "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 Facebook page to gauge how many others were experiencing similar issues. Her post garnered more than 1,000 comments with numerous people reporting they too were feeling unwell.
Tanya explained: "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 GP's 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."
Another resident of Ocean Drive, Kayley Lewis, shared that her entire family is suffering from symptoms associated with cryptosporidium.
She revealed: "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 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."
A Hillhead, Brixham resident, who wished to remain anonymous, shared her ordeal of being confined to bed for over a week after testing positive for cryptosporidium.
She recounted: "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, residing on Northfields Lane in Furzeham, reported that his family has been suffering since last Saturday, May 11, with the illness now affecting their ability to work.
He expressed: "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."
A resident from Brixham, who wished to stay anonymous, shared: "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.
"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."
Anthony Mangnall, MP for Totnes, which includes Brixham, informed DevonLive that he's aware of several Brixham residents falling ill recently and is currently making enquiries.
He declared on his official Facebook page today: "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.
"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."
The UK Health Security Agency has been approached for a comment.
