Calls to diarrhea hotline decline in regularity 

Although it was almost a month ago that an intestinal parasite, cryptosporidium parvum, or Crypto, shut down the Mustang Waterslides at Lopez Lake, officials at the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department are still receiving calls about potential infections.

Their “diarrhea hotline,� 788-2903, has handled some 545 calls. 481 of those who called showed symptoms but were not actually infected with the disease.

Although the number of calls to the hotline have declined, officials are still monitoring the situation with a keen eye on the potential for secondary transmissions.

“It’s not over yet,� said Janelle Gorman, county Communicable Disease Program manager. “We’re still continuing our surveillance.�

Secondary transmission can potentially occur if one handles laundry soiled with feces from an infected individual. Officials think secondary transmissions have contributed to the 53 currently confirmed cases.

“It certainly is calming down; there aren’t as many calls,� said Gorman. “[But] we’re always on the lookout for cases of secondary transmission.�