The picturesque seaside of town of Brixham had, up until this week, been most famous for being a tourist mecca and beautiful place to live due to its quaint harbour and renowned hospitality. However, this week it has found itself at the epicentre of a huge outbreak of parasite infection cryptosporidium.
For the past few weeks, residents have reported feeling unwell with symptoms of stomach cramps, sickness, diarrhoea, fever and headaches. Initially, they put it down to a bug or food poisoning but it was only when numbers began to increase so rapidly that speculation began mounting on social media about the cause.
With claims that whole streets had been affected, speculation began mounting that the cause of the problem could be due to a drinking quality water issue. However, at the beginning of this week and up until Wednesday, May 15, South West Water (SWW) remained adamant its tests were clear and that the water was safe to drink.
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SWW then confirmed 'small traces' of the waterborne parasite were detected Alston and the Hillhead area of Brixham with customers advised to boil their drinking water. The infected supply area increased to other areas including Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland and North West Paignton.
The latest figures published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on May 17 confirmed cases had risen to 46 with more than a further 100 having reported similar symptoms.
The handling of the outbreak by SWW has been widely criticised and it has since issued an apology. Other reported cases of diarrhoea and vomiting in residents and visitors to Brixham are also under investigation and more confirmed cases are anticipated.
SWW is yet to release specific details about the source of the outbreak other than stating it is 'currently focused on the water network in the Hillhead area' reservoir. On May 16, Totnes MP Anthony Mangnall publicly announced on Facebook that the source of the outbreak had been identified by SWW.
The cause was said to be a damaged air valve in the Hillhead area. He added the valve 'may have allowed animal waste or contaminated groundwater to enter the local supply'.
SWW has been severely criticised for its handling of the outbreak and MPs are calling for an investigation to be launched.
Here is a timeline of events of how the outbreak evolved, how it has been responded to by SWW and the UKHSA, the huge impact on local residents and further afield, the financial losses being suffered by local businesses and the grave uncertantly that remains in the town while SWW seen to fix the problem.
Monday, May 15
Brixham residents take to social media to share concerns about health outbreak
Brixham Fish Town Facebook becomes awash with people in the town complaining of feeling unwell and sharing having the same symptoms of stomach cramps, diarrhoea and sickness. Tanya Matthews feels so poorly that she puts a post on the page to see how many other people have also been affected.
It receives more than 1,000 comments with hundreds of people reporting they are also unwell.
Tuesday, May 15
SWW assures customers it is safe to drink their tap water
SWW confirms it is investigating reports of huge numbers of people becoming unwell in Brixham. It assures tests it has carried out on the quality of drinking water in Brixham have all come back clear and it is continuing to review water supplies.
The UKHSA is named as leading the investigation.
A South West Water spokesperson said: “We are aware of posts on social media regarding the quality of drinking water in the Brixham area and we would like to reassure customers that the water supply is fine to continue to use as normal. We have carried out sampling and tests for cryptosporidium and all results have come back clear.
“We always carefully monitor our drinking water supplies and we are supporting the UK Health Security Agency with their investigations.”
Residents share stories of their symptoms
It emerges that many of the cases are affecting people who live in Higher Brixham and Hillhead. Tanya Matthews, who lives within that area in Ocean View, claims every home in her street has come down with the same symptoms.
She said: "I started having stomach cramps and explosive diarrhoea nine days ago and it has been the same every day since. I started to feel a little bit better yesterday then today [May 14] it hit me again.
"I rang SWW yesterday [May 13] and I was told there had been 15 confirmed cases of cryptosporidium and that UKHSA are looking into it as they don't believe it's to do with the water.
"They wouldn't expect this many cases over a whole year for all of Devon and Cornwall so something is amiss. SWW asked if I had been in the sea or a river but I have not. I also think the water tastes funny and it has been leaving a horrid taste in my mouth."
She added: "When SWW came out today they told me they don't think it's the water. I don't know how that's possible when every house in our street has someone who is ill. So many people are sick in the area."
A resident who lives in Hillhead, Brixham and asked not to be named, has told how she has been bed-bound for over a week and has tested positive for cryptosporidium by her doctor.
She said: "I phoned SWW who said it was the first they had heard of it even though everyone has been phoning. Public health have told me I’ll be getting a phone call from environmental health but we are still waiting."
Totnes MP Anthony Mangnall reissues advice from SWW
MP Anthony confirms to DevonLive that he has been made aware that a number of Brixham residents have fallen ill in recent weeks and is making enquiries.
He said: "South West Water have reassured me that they are supporting the UK Health Security Agency with their investigations, and have stated that constituents can continue to use their water supply as normal.
"SWW carefully monitors drinking water supplies, and cryptosporidium is monitored continuously in the final drinking water from the supplying treatment facility. To confirm, all recent test results for cryptosporidium have come back clear. I will provide further updates when possible."
UKHSA statement Tuesday evening confirms 16 cases of cryptosporidium and around 70 reported cases of diarrhoea and vomiting in Brixham
An outbreak of cryptosporidium is confirmed by the UKHSA in its first official response since the outbreak was reported
(UKHSA) announces 16 confirmed cases and says its investigation into the source is ongoing. Sarah Bird, consultant in health protection at UKHSA South West said: "At this stage, a source has not been identified, and more information will be shared as soon as it is available. For most people, cryptosporidium symptoms can be managed at home without medical advice."
A South West Water spokesperson added: "We have reviewed the operation of our water treatment works and the water quality data from those sites which show us there have been no issues with the treated water.
"As agreed today with public health partners, we are carrying out further monitoring of the local supply area and we’ll continue working closely with them on their investigation. We are advising customers to continue to use their water as normal. We will keep this under review."
Wednesday, May 15
SWW confirm it has detected 'small traces' of the organism in Alston and the Hillhead area of the coastal town
Less than 24 hours after telling residents their drinking water is safe, SWW serves a boil notice in the Alston and Hillhead areas of Brixham. It says testing has confirmed the presence of cryptosporidium and it is fully investigating the cause.
A South West Water 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.”
Health and safety advice is issued and a warning map is published in SWW's website. It later assures it is contacting affected customers by door drops, SMS text messages, email, social media and voice messages.
Totnes MP Anthony Mangnall urges SWW to sort the problem out 'once and for all'
He said: I will continue to make sure South West Water cleans up their act, provides support for residents and sorts this out once and for all.”
Bottled water supplies arrive at Broadsands Car Park in Paignton
Water supplies are seen arriving in the morning, but SWW is criticised for locating the station four miles outside of Brixham. SWW confirms in the afternoon it is up and running and will be open until 10pm tonight and open the next day from 6am to 9pm. It assures it is delivering bottled water to vulnerable customers.
SWW offers affected customers £15 compensation
Huge outrage is sparked when SWW announces on X, formerly Twitter, that all customers issued with a boil water notice will receive an automatic payment amounting to just £15.
UKHSA confirms 22 cases of cryptosporidium
It adds other reported cases of diarrhoea and vomiting in residents and visitors to Brixham are also said to be under investigation and more confirmed cases are anticipated.
People are advised most symptoms can be managed at home without medical advice and that those affected should stay off school and work for 48 hours since the last episode of illness and away from swimming pools for 14 days.
New SWW map shows bigger cryptosporidium outbreak area
In the afternoon, SWW updates the cryptosporidium outbreak area which is much larger than what was indicated earlier in the morning. Customers are advised to check its website to see if their postcode is an affected area.
Its map expands again in the evening, but is soon retracted back to the previous one with SWW confirming to DevonLive that amended map on their website was not accurate.
Demand for bottled water surges
Residents in Brixham reports struggling to buy bottled water from local shops since the day before. The Spar shop in Drew Street is among those that have suddenly seen a huge increase in demand.
A Spar spokesperson said: "Following the outbreak of cryptosporidium in Brixham, Spar stores in the area have arranged for extra supplies of water and other essential products to be delivered today to help support the community."
Woman crippled with painful Cryptosporidium symptoms speaks about ordeal
Brixham resident Jenna, who lives in Raddicombe Close, near Hillhead, with her partner and their 18-month-old Cocker Spaniel Mirri, tells how they have all suffered from diarrhoea and vomiting recently, as have their neighbours.
She said: "I had the most horrific stomach pains and woke up screaming in agony. I had never experienced anything like it before; it was just awful. I then had terrible diarrhoea, vomiting and headaches and couldn't do anything so I had to take time off work."
MP Kevin Foster says SWW could face 'full investigation' involving government
In a post on X, the MP states the 'necessity of a full investigation by the Drinking Water Inspectorate into the causes and reaction by SWW'.
Thursday, May 16
Second water bottle station opens
SWW sets up a second water collection point, this time in Brixham in Freshwater Quarry Car Park. Moster mile-long queues are reported at the water station in Paignton.
School closure
Eden Park Primary School is closed as after notifying parents the previous evening that it could not safely open for students without clean drinking water. Torbay Council says it is not aware of any other school closures and is working with SWW to ensure early years settings receive bottled water.
When and how to test for cryptosporidium
Testing advice issued by the UKHSA states that people should wait to be tested until they are still symptomatic between seven to 10 days of becoming unwell.
MP says source of Brixham cryptosporidium contamination has been found
Totnes MP Anthony Mangnall publicly announces that the source of the outbreak has been identified by SWW. The cause is said to be a damaged air valve in the Hillhead area.
He adds the valve 'may have allowed animal waste or contaminated groundwater to enter the local supply'. He criticises SWW's response and handling of the situation and is calling for it to be held to account.
He said: "I am very concerned about SWW's response to this situation, as they have been slow to act and communication with customers has been very poor. This has certainly undermined trust in our water network, and I will certainly keep working with colleagues at DEFRA to ensure SWW are held to account over this issue."
He also warns the boil water notice is therefore likely to be in place for at least a further six or seven days.
SWW increase compensation offer by £100
SWW confirms affected customers will get £115 rather than £15 as a 'sorry for the stress and worry the situation has caused'.
Torbay Hospital confirms it is not under increased pressure
The hospital reassures it is not under increased pressure following the outbreak and that all its services are continuing to run.
SWW gives source of outbreak update
SWW says it is 'currently focused on the water network in the Hillhead area' but does not divulge any further information about the source of the outbreak when questioned by DevonLive. It confirms it has issued a boil water notice to around 16,000 households and businesses in the area, but won't give a list of affected postcodes.
When asked how the water became infected,a SWW spokesperson said: "We are working hard to establish the cause and are currently focused on our water network in the Hillhead area based on the water quality monitoring data and the pattern of illnesses reported by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)."
Pensioner is rushed to hospital
The story emerges of how Brixham pensioner, Elaine Hollier, 80, was rushed to hospital following a severe bout of dehydration and vomiting after drinking water contaminated with cryptosporidium.
Her husband Dennis said: "I phoned up South West Water to tell them what happened but they said you can carry on drinking the water. I know 10 people at least who have come down with it."
Brixham rallies together in face of Cryptosporidium outbreak
With vulnerable people reporting they are struggling to get hold of bottled water, Brixham resident Mary Allwood and a local businessman join forces to buy £750 worth of bottled water to give free to those most in need.
SWW boss makes first statement and issues an apology
In the evening, SWW CEO Susan Davy says said she is 'sorry' about an outbreak of cryptosporidium and admitted the company has 'fallen significantly short' of expectations. She adds technicians have been working 'around the clock' to find the source of the contamination and fix it so the water supply can return to normal.
She said: "I know on this occasion we have fallen significantly short of what you expect of us. All of us at South West Water live and work in the region, just like you. It is our home and a place we love. I am sorry this has happened."
Friday, May 17
Tourists cancel Devon holidays last minute over cryptosporidium outbreak
Reports are shared of hundreds of holidaymakers are cancelling their trips to Devon due to the outbreak.
A manager at Brookside Guest House in Brixham said: "It's knocked people's confidence about coming down here. I have had a lot of people call and message asking if it is safe to come and I have assured them we have all the necessary precautions in place and plenty of bottled water.
"What is frustrating is South West Water saying it isn't a problem and then suddenly they have found it in the water. It's not helped people's confidence and they need to earn people's trust back."
Businesses also predict a 'half-term washout'.
Warning that tap water issues could last another week
Affected residents are warned that issues with their water could continue for at least a week. Totnes MP Anthony Mangnall, whose constituency also includes Brixham, said he expected the boil notice to be in place for at least the next six or seven days.
Fears outbreak could last two more weeks
An expert warns the disease could continue for two more weeks. Paul Hunter, professor in medicine and infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia (UEA), said residents should 'expect to see further cases for at least 10 days to two weeks' and that the parasite could 'absolutely' still be in the incubation period for lots of residents.
Confirmed number of Cryptosporidium cases in Devon rises to 46
The latest figures published by the UKHSA confirm cases have risen to 46 with more than a further 100 having reported similar symptoms. More are anticipated.
Cryptosporidium update issued by Torbay Council
Council declares that Torbay is still "open for business" despite the outbreak.
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2024-05-18 05:00:00Z
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