Deadly diarrhoea disease rapidly spreading in UK - key signs to look out for

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A potentially deadly diarrhoea-causing disease is spreading across the UK and through Europe. Cases of cryptosporidiosis have been identified in Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the UK since the end of August, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The health condition is caused by microscopic germs—parasites called Cryptosporidium or Cryptosporidium, resulting in sufferers experiencing watery diarrhoea.

The dangerous bacteria is found in water, food and soil as well as on surfaces and dirty hands contaminated with the waste of humans or animals infected with the parasite.Once the bacteria enters the body, it lives in the gut and is shed in faeces after going to the toilet.

The bacteria is highly tolerant to chlorine, meaning the parasite is able to survive for long periods of time in chlorinated drinking and swimming pool water, reports the Mirror.According to the latest ECDC report, the increase in cases is "probably due to favourable environmental conditions - heat waves, heavy rainfall and flooding - in southern Europe and summer travel patterns towards these countries." The ECDC said it was monitoring the outbreak.Another recent report published in health journal The Lancet, protozoan Cryptosporidium is the main cause of diarrhoea morbidity and mortality in children under the age of five.