Control
Don't swim if you have Crypto. You can contaminate the water and make other people sick. (CDC Photo)
Cryptosporidium can be very contagious. Infected individuals should follow these guidelines to avoid spreading the disease to others:
- Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently with soap and water, especially after using the toilet, after changing diapers, and before eating or preparing food.
- Do not swim in recreational water if you have cryptosporidiosis and for at least 2 weeks after the diarrhea stops. You can pass Cryptosporidium in your stool and contaminate water for several weeks after your symptoms have ended. You do not even need to have a fecal accident in the water. Infected people may have Cryptosporidium on their skin in the anal and genital areas, including thighs and buttocks. Therefore immersion in the water may wash the parasites off the body. As a result of infected people swimming, many outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis among recreational water users have occurred.
Note: You may not be protected in a chlorinated recreational water venue (e.g., swimming pool, water park, splash pad, spray pad) because Cryptosporidium is chlorine-resistant and can live for days in chlorine-treated water. - Avoid sexual practices that might result in oral exposure to stool (e.g., oral-anal contact).
- Avoid close contact with anyone who has a weakened immune system.
- Exclude children with diarrhea from child care settings until the diarrhea has stopped.
Related Control Links
Page last modified: May 15, 2008
Page last reviewed: April 16, 2008
Content Source: Division of Parasitic Diseases (DPD)
National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (ZVED)
Page last reviewed: April 16, 2008
Content Source: Division of Parasitic Diseases (DPD)
National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (ZVED)