Illinois Officials Investigate Disease Outbreak Among Wildlife Rehab Visitors

An investigation is underway to figure out why volunteers at a Quad Cities wildlife rehab facility got sick.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, there has been an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis, which is a gastrointestinal disease, in the last few weeks.

At least 12 people have been confirmed or probable for the disease after being in contact with raccoons from Pat's Bandits in Hillsdale.

Public health officials say that the dozen of folks that got sick were interacting with raccoons between June 22nd-July 3rd. It includes both residents from Illinois and Iowa. You're asked to go get tested right away if you've experienced diarrhea within two weeks of volunteering here.

Here's how the Illinois Department of Public Health defines the disease:

Cryptosporidiosis causes a watery diarrhea that can be intermittent over a period of weeks. It is a parasite that can be spread through feces, from animals to people, from person to person and from swimming in contaminated water.

Symptoms normally start 2-10 days after infection and can last 2 weeks. The good news is most people who have a healthy immune system can recover from this disease without treatment. Anti-diarrhea medicine can help, but of course talk to your healthcare provider before you start taking it. This disease is one reason why officials suggest washing your hands after handling animals and practicing good hygiene.

Pat's Bandits is a wildlife rehab facility located in Hillsdale in Rock Island County. Their website says their goal is to "rescue, rehab, and release".