Reference no: EM133559335

Question

The physician reported that stool specimens had been collected from selected ill students and had been submitted to the hospital laboratory for testing. Because the physician had an interest in parasitology. he had specifically requested that the stools also be examined for parasites. The physician reported that cultures for bacterial pathogens had been negative. On microscopic examination, four specimens were determined to be positive for Cryptosporidium. The earliest known onset of illness among the Cryptosporidium-positive students was January 11.

How is cryptosporidiosis transmitted? On what sources of infection should public health of?cials focus?