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Gateshead pools closed after swimmers get sickness & diarrhoea

The swimming pools at Blaydon and Dunston Leisure Centres have been temporarily closed f Credit: ITV Tyne Tees

The swimming pools at Blaydon and Dunston Leisure Centres have been temporarily closed for a deep clean of the water filtration system .

It's after reports of sickness and diarrhoea that are believed to be associated with the leisure centres.

Health experts from Public Health England (PHE) and the council's environmental health department are investigating.

It's thought they could be closed for several days.

Dr Gayle Dolan, consultant in health protection at PHE’s North East Centre said:

We can confirm we have received reports of seven cases of cryptosporidios amongst users at the the two leisure centres. We are working closely with environmental health colleagues at Gateshead Council to investigate the possible source. As a precautionary measure Gateshead Council have closed the swimming pools so that they can undergo thorough cleansing.

Cryptosporidiosis is caused by the organism cryptosporidium and produces symptoms of diarrhoea and abdominal pain. In most cases the diarrhoea settles after a few days, but in a small number of cases cryptosporidiosis can be very unpleasant, with diarrhoea lasting for several weeks.

Anyone who has been diagnosed with cryptosporidiosis is advised to avoid swimming for two weeks after symptoms have stopped.

– Dr Gayle Dolan

Lindsey Murray, Service Director for Culture, Communities, Leisure and Volunteering:

To date, seven cases of the infection, which causes diarrhoea and stomach pain, have been identified in people who have been swimming in the leisure centres.

As a result, swimming pools at Blaydon and Dunston Leisure Centres have been temporarily closed to the public for a deep clean of the water system to be carried out.

We take pool water safety and hygiene very seriously and carry out all the regulatory water health and satiety procedures as standard practice. We do everything to ensure the highest level of water quality is maintained for our customers.

– Lindsey Murray

Gateshead Council's Leisure Centres are not suspected to be the origin of the illness, instead it's believed to have been introduced to the pools by an infected user.