PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – A health region is advising residents who visited the Kinsmen Water Park or Frank J. Dunn swimming pool in Prince Albert from late April until this week that they may have been exposed to a parasite capable of causing serious gastrointestinal illness.
The Prince Albert Parkland Health Region has agreed with the city’s decision to close the park to minimize risk to public health.
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The region says evidence indicates this is most likely where the exposure occurred and numerous tests have come back positive for cryptosporidium.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that can tolerate chlorine in swimming pools and infects the intestinal tract.
Cryptosporidium is spread via the fecal-oral route.
The gastrointestinal infection is not considered life-threatening for most healthy people but individuals whose health is already compromised, the elderly and young children could be at risk for more serious complications.
The most common symptoms include watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and headaches.
Those who believe they have been infected should seek medical attention for testing, advice and treatment.
Symptoms occur within two to 25 days of infection and will usually disappear from healthy people within a month without treatment.
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