After 22 cases of a waterborne disease were confirmed in and around a town in southwest England, people were urged to boil their drinking water.

“Small traces” of a parasite that can cause illness with diarrhea symptoms were found in the drinking water. Devon on Wednesday, according to South West Water.

The company added that it was working with the UK Health Authority (UKHSA) to “eliminate the source” of the disease and that water bottle stations would be set up in affected areas. One has already been set up in the car park at Broadsands Beach in Paignton to distribute water bottles.

The detected parasite Cryptosporidium can cause the disease cryptosporidiosis when transmitted to humans.

According to the UKHSA, anyone can catch the disease and it can be severe in people with compromised immune systems. However, most healthy people should recover.

Infections can be caused by drinking contaminated water or swallowing contaminated water from swimming pools or streams. Transmission is also possible through contact with animals and humans.

South West Water said: “Customers in Alston and the Hillhead area of ​​Brixham are being advised to boil their drinking water before consumption following new test results for Cryptosporidium.”

“We are issuing this notice after small traces of the organism were identified overnight and this morning.”

In addition to the 22 people confirmed to have the disease, up to 70 other reported cases of diarrhoea and vomiting in Brixham residents and visitors are currently being investigated and more confirmed cases are expected.

South West Water added that the incident was being “urgently investigated” and apologised for the inconvenience.

Sarah Bird, health protection adviser at UKHSA South West, added: “We advise people in affected areas to follow South West Water’s advice and boil and cool their drinking water before using it.”

“Anyone with diarrhoea should drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. If symptoms are severe, such as bloody diarrhoea, they should contact NHS 111 or their GP surgery.”

Symptoms of cryptosporidiosis include watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, dehydration, weight loss and fever, which can last two to three weeks, the UKHSA added.

Ms Bird continued: “For most people, the symptoms of cryptosporidium can be managed at home without the need for medical advice.

“Those affected should stay away from school and work for 48 hours after the last attack and avoid swimming pools for 14 days after the last attack.”

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Torbay Council said on Tuesday that South West Water had carried out tests for the parasite.

After initially determining that the water supply was safe and could be used as usual, the water company issued an update with a tap water warning on Wednesday.

This happened after hundreds of residents on facebook. Brixham Fish Town group reported that they had been ill for the past few days.

A post to the group on Tuesday included over 1,200 comments from locals who said they or a family member were sick.

One person in the group said they were “furious that something like this could happen” after the parasite was confirmed in the water supply.

Anthony Mangnall, the Conservative MP for Totnes, said he was “aware of the recent reports of illness in Brixham and the concerns about the quality of drinking water”.

He added that he was aware of “many other reported cases of diarrhea and vomiting among residents” of the city.

The cause of the outbreak has not yet been confirmed.