Very Yucky Reason Albuquerque Closed All Pools and Splash Pads
At the height of the summer heat, Albuquerque had to shut down ALL of the city-run swimming pools and splash pads.
Albuquerque Parks and Rec made the decision after two people were confirmed to have cryptosporidiosis after swimming at a city pool.
KOAT-TV, the source of this story left the details of cryptosporidiosis a little vague, probably in the interest of “good taste”. Because, believe me, it’s pretty nasty.
The good news for Albuquerqueans is that the pools and splash pads only to be closed for one day. Following a thorough cleaning and chlorination of ALL city pools and splash pads, the facilities reopened on Friday.
Although the outbreak was only connected to one pool, the Albuquerque Department of Parks and Recreations says they shut down all facilities out of an abundance of caution.
The KOAT story says that cryptosporidiosis can cause diarrhea, it leaves out this charming little fact: cryptosporidiosis is primarily spread by the fecal-oral route. Meaning the people who got it, swallowed a little bit of poop from somebody who already had it.
You see, cryptosporidiosis is a parasite and, as a parasite, its prime directive is to spread itself. A diarrhea bomb in a public pool is a very effective but very gross way to spread.
Cryptosporidiosis is also known as just “crypto” for short. Crypto the parasite is probably nowhere near as dangerous as Crypto the currency.
Diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting are all symptoms of crypto.
I wonder if anybody has ever thought of making swim goggles except for your mouth. Like an aquatic dental dam to prevent this kind of thing. That could be a million dollar invention on Shark Tank!