The investigation of an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in New South Wales in 2005

Abstract

In April 2005 the Communicable Diseases Branch at the NSW Department of Health noticed an increase in the number of cases of cryptosporidiosis reported across NSW. This article describes how this outbreak of cryptosporidiosis was investigated and analysed. Cryptosporidiosis is caused by the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium and the symptoms include watery diarrhoea, abdominal cramping, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting and nausea. The incubation period for cryptosporidiosis is one to 12 days. Treatment is supportive only; however, most healthy people tend to recover within two to 26 days. An infected person will excrete infectious oocysts for several weeks after their symptoms resolve.