British life-style: “As tourists are driving in the first thing they're greeted with is the most foul, disgusting smell”

Community Facebook page Brixham Fish Town has been inundated with posts and comments from residents saying they have come down with symptoms.
Photo: Daily Mail

An outbreak of cryptosporidium, which is believed to be affecting many people in Brixham, is currently being investigated, writes ‘The Daily Mail’. Cryptosporidium can be found in the intestines and faeces of infected humans and animals and can be caused by swimming in or drinking contaminated water as well as other sources such as contaminated food.

South West Water has urged people to boil their tap water after hundreds were struck down with diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach pains in a seaside town in Devon.

Residents across Brixham, Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland and north-east Paignton are all being told to boil water as a precaution, including when drinking it or using it to cook with and brush teeth.

Twenty-two cases of the bug, which is caused by a parasite, have been confirmed in the town with a further 70 under investigation.

Other symptoms include low-grade fever and a loss of appetite. All symptoms usually last one to two weeks.

A statement from the supplier said: 'Customers in Alston and the Hillhead area of Brixham are advised to boil their drinking water before consuming following new test results for cryptosporidium.

Community Facebook page Brixham Fish Town has been inundated with posts and comments from residents saying they have come down with symptoms.

Cryptosporidium, which can cause vomiting, stomach pains and a fever, can survive in swimming pools for up to a week.

The chlorine-resistant parasite is spread by contaminated faecal matter entering the mouth, such as while swimming.

Traces of dried poo can wash off an infected person's anus.

Many Brixham residents told DevonLive how they have been poorly for days and spoke of the detrimental impact it is having on their lives. It is believed that many of the cases are affecting people who live in Higher Brixham.

Tanya Matthews, who lives within that area in Ocean View, claimed every home on her street has come down with the same symptoms.

Tanya, who is awaiting a cryptosporidium test, said: 'I started having stomach cramps and explosive diarrhoea nine days ago and it has been the same every day since. I started to feel a little bit better yesterday then today it hit me again. I rang SWW yesterday and I was told there had been 15 confirmed cases of cryptosporidium and that UKHSA are looking into it as they don't believe it's to do with the water. They wouldn't expect this many cases over a whole year for all of Devon and Cornwall so something is amiss. SWW asked if I had been in the sea or a river but I have not. I also think the water tastes funny and it has been leaving a horrid taste in my mouth.'

Tanya put a post on Brixham Fish Town Facebook to see how many other people had also been affected. It is had more than 1,000 comments with many reporting they are also unwell.

Ms Henderson, of Brixham, told MailOnlne she has been suffering from 'clear diarrhoea' for the past week. Last week I had such bad diarrhoea it was crazy,' she said. 'My diarrhoea was completely clear – it was just clear water. When you have diarrhoea you get dehydration. So I was drinking more water to stay hydrated, so I was obviously feeding the illness more.'

She added: 'I never thought it would be in the water. We have the most foul smell when you drive into Brixham. As tourists are driving in the first thing they're greeted with is the most foul, disgusting smell.'

…Good, old England: ‘My diarrhoea was completely clear’. Like a tear...

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