Tourists are avoiding pretty seaside towns in the Southwest of England as an infection causing diarrhea has taken over the area’s waterways. The CEO of South West Water has said she is ‘sorry’ about an outbreak of cryptosporidium and admitted the company has ‘fallen significantly short’ of expectations.
Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite. It causes an infection called cryptosporidiosis.
The most common symptom is watery diarrhoea. Cryptosporidium is found in lakes, streams, rivers, untreated water and sometimes in swimming pools.
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Potentially hundreds of Brixham residents have reportedly been struck down with painful symptoms. The water firm confirmed on Wednesday (May 15) that ‘small traces’ of the parasitic organism had been found in water samples across the Hillhead and Alston areas of the town.
Devon Live reported on May 16 that 22 cases of illness had been confirmed in Brixham. Totnes MP Anthony Mangnall, writing on social media, said a damaged air valve ‘may have allowed animal waste or contaminated groundwater to enter the local supply ‘.
Parasite hits businesses
This morning (Saturday, May 18), a guest house manager said the waterborne disease outbreak has caused guest cancellations totalling ‘up to £1,000’ and has heard ‘nothing direct at all’ from South West Water. Steve Price, who runs The Station Guesthouse in Brixham, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “So for us at the moment, we are seeing guests actually cancelling.”
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He added that his business was ‘following all the guidance’ to ensure visitors’ safety, adding: “So we’re trying everything we can to make sure that when guests do come that they feel comfortable and they feel safe. We’re also e-mailing all our guests at the moment to let them know we’re doing all this to try and put them at ease, to encourage them still to come and visit us because of course it’s a lovely area.”
Asked about what contact his business had with South West Water, Mr Price said there had been ‘nothing direct at all’. “We’ve had to instigate any contact, there has been notifications coming from Torbay Council about numbers to contact but it’s a shame for commercial businesses because we’ve had no one come round,” he added.
Asked how much his business had lost, he said: “So far, probably anywhere from up to £1,000 in cancellations so far, which is fairly substantial.”
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