The Ministry of Health of the Government of Aragon is keeping all hypotheses open as to the cause of the presence of Cryptosporidium protozoan cysts in the Queles River, which supplies water to the town of Tarazona, where an outbreak of gastroenteritis has affected 452 people. Torreiras, Novellas and Los Fayos.
Inspections carried out by members of the Water Commission of the Ebro Hydrographic Union (CHE) and agents of the Civil Guard Seprona in the Queles River almost up to its source have so far been fruitless, “without any indication of discharges or illegal discharges being detected” “. said Health Minister José Luis Bancalero.
After meeting with the mayor and representatives from other organizations, including the Department of Agriculture, Bancalero attended a Tarazona City Council press conference to analyze the different milestones and actions taken since the outbreak was notified to the public health department on September 11. Primary care.
Cysts of this protozoan, found in the intestinal tract of humans or livestock, can contaminate water supplies, leading to community outbreaks. They are first detected in the faeces of affected individuals and then in oral water. Analysis begins in the catchment area and later Also detected in oral water. Discover focal points along the river.
However, Bancalero warned that “situations could arise without an outbreak being detected” as the outbreak could even be caused by heavy rains.
Therefore, health authorities maintain recommendations to continue limiting oral water intake until negative online results are obtained.
In this sense, he announced that the work of the treatment plant has reduced the presence of protozoa in collected oral water by a factor of 24, but warned that this type of infrastructure “is not yet ready.” to eliminate bacteria. “.”
In addition, work is being carried out using pressurized water, “but it will be of little use if the protozoa continue to reach the pipelines, the measures we take to eliminate them,” laments the Aragonese health minister, who does not rule out any hypotheses regarding leaks or Overflow as a source of protozoa.
As a community bordering the areas affected by the epidemic, Aragon is in direct contact with the Ministry of Health of Castilla and León and the Government of Navarra, which also acts within its scope and has notified the Ministry of Health The Ministry and the Ministry of Ecological Transition said that tomorrow they would respond to the Aragonese government’s request for cooperation.
The Ministry of Agriculture of Aragon, in turn, carried out inspections because this protozoa affects all mammals and can be transmitted by any other animal, but can also be transmitted from person to person, therefore, Bancalero insists, it is important to practice hygiene and hand washing.
As for those affected by gastroenteritis, Bancalero believes that not all of them are linked to protozoa, but that all are still suspect.