Pools closed due to waterborne parasite that causes gastric illness

Aquatic facilities at a Waurn Ponds centre have been closed after visitors were diagnosed with a waterborne parasite that causes gastric illness.

Aquatic facilities at Leisurelink Waurn Ponds have been closed due to a waterborne parasite. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Aquatic facilities at Leisurelink were closed after three people with confirmed cases of a waterborne parasite visited in the last three weeks, amid warnings the bug is on the rise.

The people were diagnosed with cryptosporidium, also known as crypto, a parasite that causes diarrhoeal illness and is very tolerant to chlorine disinfection.

There have been 50 cases of cryptosporidiosis – a type of gastro caused by the parasite – in Greater Geelong so far this year, according to health department data.

There were 25 cases in the municipality across 2022.

Symptoms include watery diarrhoea, stomach cramps, bloating, vomiting and fever.

Barwon South West public health unit director Eugene Athan said its health protection team had seen a rise in cryptosporidium cases across the region recently, and had been working with the health department to put measures in place to protect the community.

“Symptoms can take between one and 12 days to develop after infection,” Prof Athan said.

“People can get infected by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water, or the parasites can be spread from person to person or animal to person.”

Steps to help keep the pool clean include washing before swimming, hand hygiene, change nappies in nappy change areas only, avoid swallowing pool water, and do not swim if you have diarrhoea or have had diarrhoea in the past two weeks.

The pools at Leisurelink were closed on Thursday.

Geelong council said a hyperchlorination process was applied to all pools in the Waurn Ponds facility overnight on Wednesday, with chlorine to be returned to safe levels for swimming and the pools to be reopened on Friday.

The health department directed the precautionary measure needed to be carried out at the centre.

Only the aquatic centre, including the sauna, will be closed – the remainder of the facilities, including the gym, will be open as usual.

The centre boasts a 50m pool with divider (two 25m pools), a multi-use warm water pool, toddler and learner pools, a spa and a water park including water slides.

City of Greater Geelong acting executive director of community service delivery Alistair Miller said the health and safety of the community was the top priority.

“We emphasise that this is a precautionary health and safety measure,” Mr Miller said.

“We are following Department of Health directions to ensure the absolute safety of pool users once the facilities re-open on Friday.

“This is an unusual occurrence but it is something that happens in the aquatic industry from time to time, and our team is trained and equipped to take the necessary steps.

“We understand the closure of the pools … will be an inconvenience to some members and visitors, but we hope you’ll understand this is a necessary course of action.”

Originally published as Pools closed due to waterborne parasite that causes gastric illness