Cryptosporidium (Crypto), Essay Example

Cryptosporidium,(Crypto) is one of the most common infections found around contaminated waters in the USA. ” It is found in infected people’s stool and cannot be seen by the naked eye. This germ is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive for long periods of time and makes it resistant to chlorine disinfection found in pools”  (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009).  Escherichia coli (E.Coli)  this is a powerful toxin that can be caught be swimming in contaminated waters.  The most common causes is where raw sewage is discharged into the sea.  It is somewhat similar to Giardia that is a parasite that exists in contaminated waters containing sewage or animal feces.  Another common allergy is that of ‘swimmers itch’ ..” Swimmer’s itch is a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to infection with certain parasites of birds and mammals. These parasites are released from infected snails in fresh and salt water, such as lakes, ponds, and oceans used for swimming and wading.”  (Washington State Dept of Health, 2010).

Lake Michigan is an example of where controlling beach contamination is becoming a real problem ” The report tallied 790 closing days in 2004, about double the number of closings (391) the previous year. All of last year’s closing days were prompted by unsafe levels of bacteria in the water, indicating the presence of human or animal waste.”  (O’Sullivan, 2005). E.Coli found its way into the drinking water of Ontario in Canada ” The story of the Walkerton tragedy is not, however, primarily a story about Walkerton at all. This was no unforeseen accident. It was the predictable – and predicted – result of deliberate policy decisions which gravely compromised the safety of Ontario’s drinking water”  (Diemer, 2000).  The Public Health Authorities have a duty to post beaches where they consider the water to be contaminated and a danger to human health.  This should also be accomplished with the local communities to minimize the exposure to this risk.

Works Cited

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009, 5 19). “Crypto” (krip-TOE). Retrieved 4 25, 2010, from Healthy Swimming: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/cryptofacts.htm

Diemer, U. (2000, 6). Contamination:. Retrieved 4 24, 2010, from Radical Digressions: http://www.diemer.ca/Docs/Diemer-Contamination.htm

O’Sullivan, L. (2005, 7 8). Contamination Forces More Lake Michigan Beach Closings. Retrieved 4 24, 2010, from News: Media Center: http://www.nrdc.org/media/pressReleases/050728_ch.asp

Washington State Dept of Health. (2010, 1 8). Beach Program. Retrieved 4 24, 2010, from Washington State Dept of Health: http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/waterrec/beach/illness.htm