Cryptosporidiosis has been increasingly recognised as a cause of diarrhoeal
illness in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised people.
Massive outbreaks have been linked to municipal drinking water supplies in
North America and Europe, but so far none have been reported in Australia.
There is evidence that modes of transmission other than drinking water are
more important.
There can be no guarantee that infective Cryptosporidium oocysts will not c
ontaminate an Australian water supply. Therefore, a permanent "boil water"
warning may be warranted on medical advice in severely immunocompromised pe
ople, for whom cryptosporidiosis could be persistent and life threatening.