Two dozen people sick after swimming in Wake County pools
In recent weeks, two dozen people have become sick after swimming in public pools in Wake County.
Posted — UpdatedThe number of people becoming sick after a swim has risen in 2016, and Wake County health officials are urging care takers at public pools to take action.
The germ officials are worried about is called Cryptosporidium, otherwise known as Crypto, which is spread through fecal matter when a sick person gets in the pool.
A person catches the germ when they ingest pool water. Officials said there were 13 cases of Crypto in all of 2015. This year, 26 cases have been reported in Wake County.
Wake County Public Health Director Dr. Sue Lynn Ledford said people who catch the germ may experience diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting.
“You are going to be pretty miserable for several days,” Ledford said. “At times, that could last four weeks. Typically, it’s about four days.”
Health officials have recommended that all public pools use hyper-chlorinate to attempt to kill the germs.
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