Home / Health / Kingston Illness Outbreak: Source Eludes Health Officials
Kingston Illness Outbreak: Source Eludes Health Officials
6 Jun
Summary
- An intestinal illness outbreak has sickened dozens in Kingston recently.
- Health officials are investigating 114 cases concentrated in nine weeks.
- Potential sources include water, but food consumption is also a risk.
Health officials in Kingston, Ontario, are currently grappling with an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis, an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite. Southeast Public Health (SEPH) has reported investigating 114 cases within the last nine weeks. This number is notably higher than the typically sporadic occurrences of the illness in the region.
Dr. Ethan Toumishey, SEPH's deputy medical officer of health, described the concentration of cases as a significant signal requiring thorough investigation. Efforts to pinpoint the source are underway, examining multiple water sources, including Kingston's water treatment plant. However, the parasite can also be transmitted through contaminated food.
Individuals suspecting they have contracted the illness are urged to practice good hygiene, including frequent handwashing, and to isolate at home. They should also refrain from using pools, hot tubs, and splash pads for a period of two weeks after their symptoms have subsided. Health officials continue to explore all possible angles to determine the outbreak's origin. Some infected individuals may be asymptomatic, while others might experience temporary recovery followed by a relapse.
