Sixth case of cryptosporidiosis in South Roscommon

The HSE West's public health department has confirmed there has been six cases of cryptosporidiosis to date in South Roscommon. A boil water notice is in place in areas served by the Killeglan well since Thursday

The infectious organism has been identified in the Killeglan water scheme which serves large areas of South Roscommon, including Bealnamulla, Dysart, Brideswell, Clonown, Cornafulla, Ballydangan, Taughmaconnell and outlying rural areas.

Roscommon County Council issued the boil water notice on the advice of the Health Service Executive West today, (Thursday) and have established an incident response team to investigate the incident and will respond to minimise the risk to the public.

Cryptosporidiosis is a gut infection caused by a parasite that causes diarrhoea type illness. Most healthy people get over the illness quickly, however, it can prove much more severe for people with poor immune systems, particularly older people or young children.

Boiling water is the best measure to ensure that your water is free of cryptosporidium and other infections. The local authority says it is essential that people in the affected areas boil any water intended for drinking or food preparation. If you are unsure of the source of your water supply, you should boil your water as a precautionary measure.

Water should be boiled for the following purposes:
-Drinking
- Drinks made with water
- Preparation of salads and similar foods, which are not cooked prior to eating
- Brushing of teeth
- Making of ice.
- Un-boiled water should not be used for these purposes.
- Un-boiled water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing and flushing of toilets but not for brushing teeth or gargling.

Roscommon County Council is advising that householders boil water until rolling, then allow to cool. Cover and store in a refrigerator or cold place. Water from the hot tap is not safe to drink and domestic water filters will not render water safe to drink. Discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and any filtered water in fridges. Make ice from cooled boiled water.

Use water prepared for drinking when preparing foods that will not be cooked (e.g. washing salads, fruit and vegetables to be consumed uncooked) They also urge the public to prepare baby feeds with water that has been brought to the boil once and cooled. Do not use water that has been reboiled several times or bottled mineral water as most brands contain concentrations of minerals that are too high for babies.

Anyone suffering from diarrhoea for more than two days should contact their general practitioner and provide a stool sample for testing. They should continue to drink plenty of boiled or bottled water in the meantime.
Anyone suffering from diarrhoea should not swim in a swimming pool or any recreational type water until two weeks after diarrhoea has stopped.
Roscommon County Council has stressed that the boil water notice will only be lifted when the water supply is considered to be safe.

Areas affected by the boil water notice include:
Dysart, Brideswell, Esker, Bealnamullia, Crancam, Cloonown, Cornafulla, Nure, Lowtown, Thomastown, Moore, Cloonburren, Creggan, Oldtown, Ballydangan, Cullaghmore, Beagh, Suckfield, Cloonulty, Ballygortagh, Carrowreigh, Taughmaconnell, KIlleglan, Castlesampson, Feevagh, Ardkeenan, Drum, Tulrush, Ardnaglug, Skyvalley, Newtown and Cloonkeen.

Also affected are the following group water schemes: Ballygortagh, Camlagh, Castlesampson, Creggan Cornafulla, Culleen, Culliaghmore, Dysart, Esker, Griffin/Kilroy, Knock, Taughmaconnell, Moore, Oldtown Clonown,
Oonagh Taughmaconnell and Parkmore.