This article is from page 9 of the 2006-10-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 9 JPG
MYSTERY surrounds the source of a small outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in the Tulla area.
Two people presented with the illness caused by a protozoan parasite at the Mid Western Regional Hospital Limerick.
No cases of the diarrhoeal disease were reported to the Mid Western Regional Hospital Ennis.
Clare County Council was notified of the illness and it carried out its own investigation. An environmental health officer took samples from the Tulla public water supply, but the presence of cryptospirosis was not detected in the water supply.
Cryptosporidiosis occurs throughout the world and in all age groups. In developed countries, Cryptosporidiosis is one of the most common causes of infective diarrhoea.
The disease can affect humans, poultry and other birds, fish, reptiles, small mammals (rodents, cats and dogs) and large mammals, particularly cattle and sheep.
In Ireland, the disease is not notifiable in animals and therefore the prevalence of the disease is not known.
Small traces of the parasite were found in the Ennis water supply last year leading to a boiling order for the town.
A temporary filtration system has since been put in place in Ennis, which continues to be monitored by the HSE.
This includes daily monitoring of raw and treated water for general coliform, E Coli, Turbidity, colour and chlorine. Weekly monitoring is also carried out for Cryptosporidium.
All samples of treated water to date have been negative for E Coli and Cryptosporidium.