Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic infection usually transmitted through fecal-oral contact, most commonly waterborne. Other routes of transmission include foodborne, person-to-person, and animal-to-person. Outbreaks have been associated with contaminated drinking water, recreational water venues, consumption of unpasteurized apple cider, and day-care centers. Populations at greatest risk of developing severe infection include young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.

There were 90 cases of cryptosporidiosis reported in Indiana in 2001, for a rate of 1.5 cases per 100,000 population. This represents a marked increase from 2000 (Figure Cry1). Incidence of disease was greatest during the summer months, as shown in Figure Cry2.

Age-specific rates were greatest for children ages 5-9 (2.7), followed by infants (2.4) and preschoolers (2.4) (Figure Cry3). Females (1.5) were slightly more likely to be reported than males (1.3), with two cases not reporting gender data. The rate for blacks (1.6) was higher than that for whites (1.1) or other races (0.40), however 25 cases (27%) did not report race data.

Of those counties that reported 5 or more cases, LaGrange County had the highest incidence rate (17.2), followed by Huntington (13.1), and Tippecanoe (7.4) (Table Cry1). 

There were no outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis reported in Indiana in 2001.