HILLSDALE, Ill. — Editor's note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated Pat's Bandits was in Hillside, Illinois. It is located in Hillsdale. The story has been corrected and we apologize for the error.
The Illinois Department of Public Health is warning residents of the Quad Cities about an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis.
According to the IDPH, at least 12 people have been diagnosed with the disease after touching raccoons at Pat's Bandits, a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center in Hillsdale, Illinois. The people who got sick were believed to have contracted the disease while volunteering between June 22 and July 3.
Cryptosporidiosis, which causes watery diarrhea, is a parasite which is spread through feces, from animals to people, from person to person or from swimming in contaminated bodies of water. Symptoms usually begin two to 10 days after being infected and can last up to two weeks. According to the IDPH, most people with a healthy immune system will recover without requiring treatment.
Officials said additional diligence with hand-washing is the best way to prevent the spread of cryptosporidiosis.
Owner Pat Denzer posted the following statement on the rescue's Facebook group:
"Why did I post this? Today I received a call from the Rock Island Health Dept telling me that I had to shut down the volunteer program to all new volunteers.
"There are 7 suspected cases of this disease having been reported to them and they are saying that the common denominator is that they have all volunteered at our rehab. Nothing about pools, ponds, rivers, etc the common sources for contamination. But it must be the wildlife.
"This issue needs to be resolved as soon as possible, therefore I am having my Vet do a sampling of the babies that our volunteers handle to be tested. These test have to be sent off for diagnostics so it will take, I hope no less than a week, although of that I am not sure.
"Until then we cannot take new volunteers. If you have been coming routinely and have shown no signs of the symptoms of Crypto, they said you are allowed to continue to come. This of course is of your choosing.
"I wanted to get this information out to you, as I believe you need to know what is going on and deserve to know the truth. This rehab and the babies here mean the world to me and I give my heart and soul to them everyday.
"If you have signed up and have never been here before please let us know so we can remove you for at least the next few weeks until this is cleared up. If anyone else wants to be removed for health concerns I totally understand. Just please contact us so we know.
"Also take this as a lesson no matter what you are doing, proper hygiene is very important. Please constantly be washing your hands, it prevents things such as this.
"Thank you for your understanding during this difficult time.
"Pat."
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