A large outbreak of cryptosporidiosis at a pool in Melbourne, Australia, 2025: rapid investigation and public health response
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2026.17.2.1343Keywords:
outbreak, infectious disease, cryptosporidiosis, swimming pools, AustraliaAbstract
Objective: Cryptosporidiosis is a gastrointestinal illness spread via infected people, animals, or contaminated water or food. This article describes a cryptosporidiosis outbreak associated with a swimming pool in Melbourne, Australia in February 2025.
Methods: On 13 February, the North Eastern Public Health Unit was simultaneously notified of a complaint of gastroenteritis symptoms by a social group who swam at Pool A on 4 February and of gastroenteritis symptoms among students at School B who attended the same pool on 5 February. An outbreak was declared and an investigation commenced. Communications were sent to 1034 pool patrons and schools that attended the pool in early February to advise of the outbreak, provide safe swimming messages and encourage testing among symptomatic individuals. Interviews with symptomatic individuals were undertaken. An online questionnaire supported active case finding and information-sharing. Local clinicians and laboratories were alerted to the outbreak and healthy swimming messages were promoted at the pool.
Results: Cryptosporidiosis was suspected due to the 4–9-day incubation period. Due to initial reports of a high attack rate among the students and concerns about ongoing exposure to current pool users, the pool was immediately closed for hyperchlorination. Subsequent urgent faecal specimen testing confirmed Cryptosporidium. Overall, 16 confirmed and 59 probable cases were identified. The most common symptoms were diarrhoea (56%), abdominal pain (48%) and nausea (45%). Of those who only attended the pool once, the median incubation period was 7 days (range: 4–9 days). No cases were identified after hyperchlorination.
Discussion: This pool-associated cryptosporidiosis outbreak demonstrates the importance of rapid outbreak investigation and response, and pre-emptive aquatic environmental control measures to prevent ongoing transmission.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Clarissa Moreira, Renae Oliver, Norelle Sherry, Karolina Mercoulia, Annaliese van Diemen, Claire Gordon
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