An outbreak of crytosporidium, a parasitic disease caused by a protozoan parasite, has closed the Mount Ayr municipal swimming pool for Friday, July 30.
A rumor that the Family Resource Center was closed by the outbreak was not true. A couple of cases of the disease have been found there but the center has not been closed, officials there said.
The protozoa affects the intestinal tract of people, causing a short-term infection that can cause severe diarrhea. A child who came down with the illness had swam at the pool, so the pool was closed as a precaution to keep the bug from spreading.
Protozoa are not killed by the chlorine treatment done in the swimming pool so another chemical has been used to disinfect the pool. Once the chemical balance returns to normal, the pool will be opened again. It is hoped that this will be able to be done by Saturday, July 31.