Cryptosporidium confirmed in three Milton HS students

Milton High School, in southern Wisconsin’s Rock County, has at least three confirmed cases of the protozoan parasitic infection, cryptosporidiosis, in students at Milton High School, according to a WKOW 27 report.

This is a corrected count from previous reports at the school.

According to the report, the school’s football coach stated “he has lots of sick kids on his team”. Rock County health officials are attempting to get samples for testing to determine their status.

Although there is not a press release on the Rock County Health Department website, they are headlining “Cryptosporidium” on the front page with links to CDC information.

Cryptosporidiosis, or Crypto, is a microscopic parasite causing a diarrheal illness. Common symptoms include: diarrhea, stomach cramps or pain, dehydration (which is often most serious in the very young and the very old), nausea, vomiting, fever andweight loss. Symptoms usually begin 2 to 10 days after infection and normally last for one to two weeks. Once a person is infected, the parasites live in the intestines and are passed in the stool.

Related: What is Cryptosporidium? How do you prevent getting cryptosporidiosis?