Families warned 'do not' as English seaside town popular with holidaymakers hit by parasite outbreak

Hundreds of people in Brixham have reported having symptoms like diarrhoea, stomach cramps and fever, while Public Health bosses confirmed 22 cryptosporidium cases

Holidaymakers visiting parts of a popular English seaside town have been warned not to drink water straight from the tap after a parasite outbreak. People staying in the affected areas of Brixham in Devon have been told to boil their tap water before drinking after samples tested positive for cryptosporidium.

Public Health bosses confirmed that 22 cases of the infection have been confirmed while hundreds of people have reported symptoms on a community Facebook group. Residents in the Alston and the Hillhead areas have described being struck down with severe diarrhoea, stomach cramps and fever, while one woman claimed to have been bed-bound for over a week after reportedly testing positive for cryptosporidium.

A primary school in Brixham was forced to close on Thursday while aerial images showed locals queuing for almost a mile for bottled water after stations were set up. According to Totnes MP Anthony Mangall, the cause of the outbreak was said to be a damaged air valve in the Hillhead area, which 'may have allowed animal waste or contaminated groundwater to enter the local supply'.

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South West Water issued a 'boil water' warning on Wednesday to anyone residing in the impacted areas. A spokesperson said: "Customers in Alston and the Hillhead area of Brixham are advised to boil their drinking water before consuming following new test results for cryptosporidium.

"We are issuing this notice following small traces of the organism identified overnight and this morning. We are working with the UK Health Security Agency and other public health partners to urgently investigate and eliminate the source.

"We apologise for the inconvenience caused and will continue to keep customers and businesses updated. Bottled water stations will be set up in the affected areas as soon as possible."

Anyone staying in Alston and Hillhead has been told not to drink water straight from the tap, but rather boil it first and let it cool. "We ask that customers informed of the notice do not drink tap water without first boiling it and allowing it to cool," said South West Water. "This should also be done for preparing or cooking food or cleaning teeth.

"Boiled water can be stored in a covered container in the fridge for 24 hours. Water can continue to be used as normal for washing, bathing and toilet flushing."