Third public pool closes due to highly contagious parasite, but council fails to mention real reason
An Adelaide council has told the public it closed one of its pools for “unforeseen maintenance”, instead of disclosing that a major health emergency was the real reason.
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A highly contagious parasite has forced a third public pool to close in Adelaide this month, with members of the swim centre saying they were not told the real reason the pool was shut down.
On Tuesday, The ARC Swim Centre at Campbelltown closed after a person infected with a parasite called a cryptosporidium had swam there the week before.
The same parasite closed both the Marion Outdoor Pool and SA Aquatic Centre on March 21 and 22.
At 9am, The ARC Campbelltown sent members an email warning them to “not enter the water if they are feeling unwell” or had symptoms of gastro.
“To help keep our pool safe and enjoyable for everyone, please do not enter the water if you are feeling unwell, particularly if you have gastro symptoms such as diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, or fever,” the email read.
The email did not mention that the pool was closed due to a case of cryptosporidiosis, and a few hours later at 3pm, a text message was sent to members from the ARC, saying it was due to “required unforeseen maintenance”.
“Due to required unforeseen maintenance, unfortunately ARC Aquatic Area is closed and will reopen at midday tomorrow (Wednesday). Gym and Group Fitness remain open,” the text read.
The ARC is operated by the Campbelltown City Council, who told The Advertiser that members of the pool were informed via “standard messaging”, and that they did not say it was cryptosporidiosis because they did not want to cause “panic”.
“This was to avoid panic in the community as the situation was precautionary (no evidence the bug was in the pool),” the council said.
“Any members of the ARC who asked further questions were provided with the details.”
SA Health said they were aware on Tuesday that someone with the disease had swam at the centre the week before, and told the Eastern Health Authority (EHA) about it.
“The Eastern Health Authority was notified the same day,” SA Health said.
ARC member, Sarah**, not her real name, told The Advertiser that it was “not up to standard” for the ARC and Campbelltown Council to withhold that information.
“My beef with it was that it’s a council-run facility, and the council shouldn’t be saying its ‘maintenance’, when it’s potentially some sort of gastric virus,” she said.
“If you’re rehabbing because you’ve had a knee replacement, or any sort of post-operative thing, then there’s a risk and you need to know.
“Because then you can then make your own decision about whether you go or whether you don’t.
“I just think that you’ve gotta be open and upfront and say there was an issue.
“If it drives people away, so be it.”
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