Watch out for parasites in swimming pools this summer! According to the Centers of Disease Control (CDC), in the last few years there has been a dramatic rise in parasitic infections obtained through swimming pools and hot tubs even though they have been treated with chlorine. The main culprit is a bug called Cryptosporidium. This bacterium can survive in water that has been treated with chlorine. The CDC states that 90 outbreaks associated with Cryptosporidium were reported in 32 states and Puerto Rico between 2011 and 2012. Approximately 1,788 people became infected, resulting in 95 hospitalizations and one death. Every case was found to come from recreational water such as pools, hot tubs, and also lakes. According to a report issued by the CDC, “Since 1988, the year that the first U.S. treated recreational water-associated outbreak of Cryptosporidium was detected, the number of these outbreaks reported annually has significantly increased". If Cryptosporidium enters your body, it burrows into your small intestine. This causes bouts of diarrhea. Some people are able to clear the pathogen in a couple of weeks, but in other people it persists and requires treatment. People with a weak immune system are at risk of dying from the infection. The take home message is try not to swallow any water while in a swimming pool, and please, don't go swimming if you've recently experienced diarrhea, as you can contaminate the pool with pathogens. It’s also critically important to ensure your digestive system is healthy. People with good levels of friendly microorganisms living in their gut recover much more quickly from these types of infections. If you don’t regularly eat fermented foods such as sauerkraut or miso, you may benefit from a probiotic supplement.   Reference: Hlavsa M, Roberts V, Kahler A, et al. Outbreaks of Illness Associated with Recreational Water — United States, 2011–2012. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2015.