Aussies warned of highly infectious illness after cases soared by 380 per cent

Australians are being reminded to practice good hygiene after cases of a highly contagious type of gastro hit a 20-year high in 2024.

More than 14,000 cases of cryptosporidiosis were recorded across the country in 2024, showing an increase of almost 380 per cent compared to the year before.

Crypto, as it's more commonly known, is a parasite found in faeces, which is spread by being swallowed via food or water.

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It causes uncomfortable symptoms including vomiting and stomach cramps.

National data shows young children and their parents are the most likely cohort to acquire the disease.

To protect yourself from the bug, Aussies are encouraged to practice good hand hygiene and try not to swallow water when swimming.

People who experience severe or prolonged gastroenteritis symptoms should visit a doctor.

There have been 355 cases of the parasite so far this year, while the 7664 in the first three months of last year.

Western Australians on alert

The rate of cryptosporidiosis continues to surge in Western Australia, where around two cases have been recorded each day since the start of the year.

Between 2020 and 2023, the state recorded an average of 276 cases of cryptosporidiosis each year.

That number soared last year, when 800 cases of the gastroenteritis disease were recorded.

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This year, 74 cases have been reported, which is more than 30 per cent higher than the same time in 2023.

In a statement, WA Health said community members were encouraged to take preventative measures to stop the spread of infection, including:

• Wash hands with soap and water after changing nappies, going to the toilet and before preparing or handling food or drinks.
• Supervise children to make sure they wash their hands properly.
• Make sure foods are thoroughly cooked.
• Wash or peel all raw vegetables and fruits before eating.
• Do not drink undisinfected water. Be wary of private supplies after flooding or other extreme weather events, especially if the water looks cloudy.
• Wait at least 2 weeks after symptoms have ceased before entering a swimming pool, spa, splash park, spray park or water slide.
• If a child in your household has Cryptosporidium infection, they should not share a bath with another child. A shower may be used rather than a bath as the risk of infection spreading through a shower is minimal.
• Avoid unnecessary touching of farm animals, especially young calves and lambs.
• Do not touch faeces of animals or pets without protection such as sturdy gloves

One fifth of infections were also acquired overseas, most commonly by travellers returning from Indonesia.

WA Health said a spike in gastro cases was common every four to seven years.

Person-to-person transmission was the most common way people become infected, according to WA Health, but the bug could also be spread at swimming pools and water parks.

Management at Beatty Park pool said they were taking strong measures to protect swimmers.

"We have an ultra violet radiation system whereby our indoor pool water passes though a chamber which is an ultra violet radiation chamber and that destroys many pathogens and it helps destroys crypto," Jeffrey Fondacaro said.

Sydney study exposes dirty secret

The public health warning follows similar advice in Sydney, where a recent study found unsafe levels of faecal matter lurking in ocean pools.

A recent investigation commissioned by the Sydney Morning Herald found levels the presence of a bacteria known as enterococci, which can also cause gastrointestinal illness at swimming spots across the city.

At Dawn Fraser Baths in Balmain, faecal contamination was 10 times above safe levels at the time of testing.

Mort Bay in Birchgrove was five times higher than safe levels and results at Double Bay's Redleaf were double what they should have been.

It's understood the contamination is caused by a culmination of run-off from construction sites, dog poo on the street and sewage overflows.

Swimmers are advised to check pollution monitoring program Beachwatch and not to go swimming after rain.

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