The Northern Kentucky Health Department was investigating an outbreak of Cryptosporidiosis, better known as crypto, at a popular water park.
As of mid-August, about a dozen cases had been confirmed with “numerous” probable cases. About half of the confirmed cases were being linked to the Silverlake Water Park in Erlanger, about 90 miles northeast of Louisville. The other half of the cases originated from other sources, according to a health department spokesman. Those affected range in age from 2 years to adult.
Cryptosporidium is a parasite that causes gastrointestinal illness with symptoms such as abdominal cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and nausea. It is contracted by swallowing water that is contaminated by fecal matter. With a tough outer shell, the parasite itself is resistant to normal levels of chlorine.
According to Northern Kentucky Health Department spokesman Skip Tate, the Silverlake Water Park has been cooperative with the investigation and has superchlorinated its water and remains open.
The waterpark issued the following statement: “We are aware of the recent Cryptosporidium (Crypto) outbreak that has impacted multiple pools in the Northern Kentucky area. Crypto is a fecal-oral spread parasite that can live in liquid, soil and on hard surfaces. Health and safety is our top priority at Silverlake and we are taking all the possible steps to ensure the pool is safe for our members, staff, and guests.
“Following the notification of the first case by the Health Department, we immediately took action to close and clean our pool. Members were notified via social media that the pool would be closing for sanitation. We closed the pool by 5 p.m. at which time we followed the protocols of the Northern Kentucky Health Department with a process called super chlorination to kill Crypto. The Silverlake pool was over super chlorinated to ensure the levels were well beyond what is necessary to kill Crypto.” Once this process was complete and chlorine levels returned to safe levels, we were cleared by the Health Department to reopen the pool. This process took over 42 hours to complete.
The outdoor pool was closed from 5 p.m. on August 9 and reopened at 11 a.m. on August 11.
