Gastro cases on the rise
30 January 2025
WA is experiencing a rise in cryptosporidiosis cases, a type of gastroenteritis (gastro) caused by a parasite found in faeces (poo) of infected humans and some animals.
In 2024, there were around 800 cases of this disease in WA – a significant increase from about 200 cases in 2023.
Cryptosporidiosis is usually spread through person-to-person contact. If you come in to contact with someone or something that is contaminated by human or animal faeces, you are at risk of getting this disease. This can include:
- swallowing polluted water from rivers, ponds, lakes, and other water bodies
- eating uncooked food, fruit or vegetables that have been contaminated or washed with contaminated water
- touching your mouth after handling contaminated clothing, bedding or nappies.
Public swimming pools can also be a potential transmitter, but the water treatment in WA makes it unlikely that transmission occurs via public pools.
Good personal hygiene is the best way to prevent cryptosporidiosis, however and children are at higher risk because they tend to have poorer hygiene than adults.
The best things you can do to stop the spread of infection include:
- washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially after going to the toilet, changing nappies and before handling food.
- supervising kids to make sure they are washing their hands properly.
- thoroughly cooking your food and washing or peeling raw fruit and veggies.
Common symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting.
If you have any of these symptoms and are concerned you may have the disease, see your family doctor, drink plenty of fluids and practice good personal hygiene to avoid the risk of further spreading the disease.
Learn more about cryptosporidiosis.