The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County has issued a health alert for the county after 58 cases of a parasitic illness had been reported as of July 29. Cryptosporidium is a parasite found in contaminated water, and can make people very sick. Symptoms include severe cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. “It really has to do with coming in contact with contaminated fecal matter where this parasite lives,” said the department’s Maggie Hall on Thursday. Cryptosporidium spreads easily in water, and since half the cases have come from public pools and water parks in Pinellas County, those facilities were alerted, and one was shut down as a precaution. The disease can also be spread if hands are not washed after toilet use or changing diapers. From there, it can spread to surfaces, toys and food. The highest rates of Cryptosporidium infection are in those younger than 18. The disease also can affect animals. Hall suggested the following steps to prevent transmission of the parasite:
Take children on frequent bathroom breaks and check diapers often.
Change diapers in a bathroom and not at poolside as germs can spread to surfaces or objects in and around the pool and spread illness.
Shower before entering the water.
Wash hands with soap and water after changing diapers.
The News Desk team at Food Safety News covers breaking developments, regulatory updates, recalls, and key topics shaping food safety today. These articles are produced collaboratively by our editorial staff.
French authorities are investigating the death of a woman who consumed dried mushrooms.
At the start of November, health officials were notified about the death of a patient following a
This is part 1 of a 3-part series.
An unlicensed meat producer and poor hygiene at a restaurant played a role in a Salmonella outbreak in an Australian state,
Almost 500 people were sick in a major E. coli outbreak in Germany in 2025, according to recently released figures from a regional State Office for Health and Social Affairs.
Fresh & Ready Foods LLC of Renton, WA, is recalling 2,414 of Fresh To You Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit Sandwiches because they have the potential to be contaminated
A California pumpkin patch and petting zoo associated with an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections reopened Nov. 6 with the owners saying environmental tests for the pathogen had
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for frozen, not ready-to-eat (NRTE), meat and poultry products because of misbranding and
The Food and Drug Administration uses import alerts to enforce U.S. food safety regulations for food from foreign countries. The agency updates and modifies the alerts as needed.
Recent
