Cryptosporidiosis is a disease caused by microscopic parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium. It is primarily waterborne disease and although major outbreaks are thankfully fairly rare, the illness resulting from it can be serious and it is therefore important to try and stop it occurring wherever possible. The aim of these web pages is to provide background information on the disease, its symptoms, its occurrence and the control measures currently in place in the UK to deal with it. On the following pages you will find links to medical information, to details of previous outbreaks, to sources of help and advice when an outbreak occurs and to official UK government information on Cryptosporidiosis, including the relevant legislation.
Environmental health practitioners play a key role in monitoring and safeguarding the quality of water supplies in the UK and are instrumental in providing support and advice when an outbreak occurs. The body of knowledge about Cryptosporidium is growing fast and what we have been able to provide here is only a small part of it. We hope that you will find the following pages a useful introduction to the subject: