The outbreak of cryptosporidiosis or “crypto” continues as many kids are returning or getting ready to go back to school. State medical director, Patti Quinlisk says the believe the cases of the disease will soon ease up. “We think a lot of it may be due to swimming pools and stuff, which means once the swimming pools are shut down and kids are back in schools, at least that one type of spread should be stopped,” Quinlisk says. “But of course we don’t it to then get into the schools and other places and start spreading in other venues.”

Swimming pools generally close for the summer season on the Labor Day weekend. Crypto is caused by a parasite that lives in the intestines of humans and animals and is spread in feces. Dr. Quinlisk says the best way to stop it is to cut off the source. “Bottom line is, let’s keep kids home who have diarrhea or if you’re an adult, you shouldn’t go to work with diarrhea. And everybody wash your hands and we should get this under control,” Quinlisk says.

She says it won’t help if kids aren’t following the proper technique for handwashing. “Which is again, warm water and soap and sing Happy Birthday twice while you’re doing it, and that means your hands are clean” according to Quinlisk. “So most in school if they don’t have diarrhea and wash their hands correctly then there shouldn’t be that much of a risk. But you have to be sure they do those two things right.”

Well over 300 cases of crypto have been reported so far this year when there were a total of 328 all of last year. Polk County reported 170 cases through early July alone. Crypto can lead to watery diarrhea, sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and low grade fever.

(Radio Iowa)

Residents in some parts of the KJAN listening area, especially those to the north, may see an unusual combination of aircraft flying across the sky in Iowa today (Thursday).

A-7 Corsair

The Iowa National Guard plans to transport an A-7 Corsair jet from the 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City via a Chinook helicopter to the Goldstar Museum at Camp Dodge in Johnston. The two-seater jet has been in storage in Sioux City for 15 years.

The jet was flown by the 185th in 1977 through 1991 when it was still a fighter wing. Technicians in Sioux City gave the jet a makeover to honor the memory of Tech Sergeant Bruce Johnson and Captain Andy Erickson, who once flew and maintained the aircraft. The helicopter will take off carrying the jet around 7:30 in the morning and arrive at Camp Dodge sometime after 11:30. The jet will then become part of the outdoor equipment display at the museum.

(Radio Iowa)