Cryptosporidiosis Threshold Program

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

In 2007, Utah experienced one of the nation’s largest outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis, a waterborne parasitic illness that sickened thousands with watery diarrhea. In response to this outbreak, the state of Utah added protective measures governing operation of swimming pools, including a system of watches and warnings that determine what interventions will be made in response to future outbreaks. In 2015, Salt Lake County Health Department revisited its criteria and developed novel disease action thresholds to determine whether a cryptosporidiosis watch or warning should go into effect in accordance with the regulation. These thresholds were defined by whether the number of cryptosporidiosis cases with specific recreational water exposures was two or four standard deviations above the five year (non-outbreak) average for watches and warnings, respectively. As part of the program, a chart was sent to county leaders each week showing progress toward the thresholds throughout the cryptosporidiosis season. The redesigned threshold program improved communication consistency and breadth with county leaders, simplified communication with the public, and reduced the complexity of the threshold algorithm compared to that used the previous year, further improving ease of communication and reducing associated staff time.