Cover-up over North West's crypto outbreaks

Health experts have found that an outbreak of the stomach bug cryptosporidiosis in north-west England last year was strongly linked to drinking water supplies. A report into the incident, kept under wraps by the health authorities, suggests that North West Water faces a major programme of investment to improve treatment to remove the organism. The findings come as the Government has promised to tighten its proposed controls on cryptosporidium in water supplies following an expert committee report. ¹