Two children who attended a special needs school in Liverpool that was hit by an outbreak of giardiasis, a disease caused by a parasite, have died.
The names of the deceased and the exact cause of death have not been released.
However, health officials have said it is “unlikely that the deaths are caused by Giardia” despite the ongoing outbreak.
A spokesperson for the UK Health Security Agency said: ‘The UK Health Security Agency is aware of the sad passing of two children attending Millstead Primary School. Our thoughts are with the family, friends and school community.
“The deaths are unlikely to be due to Giardia. Giardia usually causes a self-limiting gastrointestinal illness that can spread easily in households and school environments.”
Emma Savage, Consultant in Health Protection for our Cheshire and Merseyside Health Protection Team, added: ‘Investigations are ongoing and we have provided information and advice to the school and parents. Public health measures have been put in place to help prevent further cases.’
MailOnline explains here what the symptoms of the infection are, how long it lasts, what to do if you or your child is infected and how best to prevent this infection.
The school is currently dealing with an outbreak of the stomach virus giardia, which is caused by the parasite giardia lamblia. Pictured: A micrograph of a parasite giardia lamblia
What is giardiasis?
Giardiasis is the name for a gastrointestinal disease caused by a small parasite, Giardia lamblia.
Giardia lamblia infects humans through the digestive tract, from where it infects the small intestine and causes the disease giardiasis.
Approximately 4,000 cases of giardiasis are recorded each year in the UK.
However, the actual number may be higher because people with the disease may not seek medical attention and cases may therefore go undetected.
What are the symptoms and when do they occur?
The main symptoms of giardiasis are foul-smelling diarrhea that occurs two to five times a day and makes patients feel increasingly tired.
Other common symptoms include stomach pain or cramps, burping that smells like eggs, bloating, nausea, foul-smelling, fatty or floating stools, and weight loss.
Diarrhea can also lead to dehydration, which can cause other symptoms or worsen existing symptoms.
Less common symptoms include fever, itchy skin or rash, swollen eyes, and swollen joints.
Symptoms usually begin one to two weeks after a person ingests Giardia lamblia. During this time, the parasite begins to reproduce until there are enough copies to cause giardiasis.
However, experts estimate that about 5 to 15 percent of people infected with Giardia lamblia will not experience any symptoms of giardiasis.
Although this may seem positive for these individuals, they may unknowingly spread the infection to others, putting them at risk of becoming even more infected.
How long are people sick?
Once symptoms appear, giardiasis usually takes two to six weeks to develop without treatment.
However, people with weakened immune systems, such as those undergoing cancer treatment, may be sick for longer.
With treatment, the duration of giardiasis can usually be reduced to about a week.
The two children attended Millstead Primary School in Everton, Merseyside, before their deaths
Millstead Primary School principal Michelle Beard said the community was “devastated” by the children’s deaths
What are the main ways people can become infected with Giardia lamblia?
Giardia lamblia is spread through contact with infected feces from people and animals carrying the parasite.
This often happens through contaminated food or water.
Such contamination can occur through drinking or swimming in water supplies contaminated with human or animal sewage.
London-based consultant gastroenterologist Dr Aathavan Loganayagam said: ‘Once inside their host, the microscopic cysts multiply rapidly. An infected person can pass millions of cysts in their stools every day.’
Infection can also occur through contamination of food, for example by washing vegetables with contaminated water or by meals prepared by someone with giardiasis.
The parasite can also be spread through direct contact with an infected person, such as a parent caring for a sick child.
Dr Loganayagam also said that people can become infected through indirect contact, for example by “touching contaminated surfaces such as bathroom taps or door handles”.
Finally, Giardia lamblia can also be transmitted through sexual contact, especially unprotected anal and oral sex.
How is it diagnosed and treated?
If a GP suspects that a patient has giardiasis, the patient will provide a stool sample. This sample is then sent to a specialist laboratory for testing for traces of Giardia lamblia.
If infection is confirmed, patients are typically prescribed antibiotics to help their bodies fight the infection.
Patients are also advised to drink plenty of fluids, as the diarrhea it causes can lead to dehydration.
Sometimes doctors advise people living with a confirmed giardiasis patient to also get tested and take medication, even if they are not experiencing symptoms.