The Utah Department of Health has modified swimming restrictions it imposed on children under 5 years old after a massive outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in the state.
“The restriction for swimming continues for anyone who needs to wear diapers, regardless of age,” a press release from state health officials states.
But children who are potty trained are being allowed back into public swimming pools. Health officials originally announced the restrictions Aug. 28.
“Given the decline, it does look like the measures local health departments put into place are working,” state epidemiologist Robert Rolfs said in a press release. “This modification is being made to better focus local efforts on keeping fecal matter out of pools by keeping diapers out of pools.”
The modified restrictions allow potty-trained children to attend swim lessons, according to Rolfs.
Utah generally sees about 30 cases of crypto per year. In September, there more than 1,700 confirmed cases in the state.
Elliott: crack down on dog owner
Last week, Summit County Commissioner Sally Elliott lashed out at a North Summit woman whose dogs attacked a fawn in September.
“None of the [dogs] have rabies shots, none of them are leashed,” Elliott said about roughly three dogs owned by North Summit resident Pam Rapplean.
Wildlife officers investigated the dogs after they attacked a young deer at Rapplean’s house on Chalk Creek Road on Sept. 25, said Bruce Johnson, a Utah Division of Wildlife Resources conservation officer.
Rapplean could face criminal charges, Johnson said Monday.
“Those three dogs must be rabies protected or licensed. Or we take them all away,” Elliott said.
Since the fawn was attacked, Rapplean has installed more fencing on her property, Summit County Commissioner Ken Woolstenhulme said, adding that officials should obtain a search warrant for Rapplean’s property to determine whether too many dogs live inside the home.
Owning several dogs requires a kennel permit, Elliott said, adding that Rapplean has had eight dogs living at her house near Coalville.
Officials in Summit County recently denied Rapplean’s request to open a kennel to house about 30 dogs in North Summit.
Coalville residents say Rapplean is “trying to circumvent the (planning) system,” Woolstenhulme said.
“The people up there are getting nervous,” he said. “I keep getting phone calls.”
Rapplean didn’t comment extensively about the case when reached Monday.
“I want to keep it out of people’s eyes because it hurts my business,” she said in a telephone interview.