Masterton has its first confirmed case of cryptosporidiosis since the discovery of the contamination in the town's water last week.
Medical officer of health Dr Stephen Palmer said tests on an elderly man admitted to Masterton Hospital with other health problems on July 29 showed he had cryptosporidiosis.
He said the man had not been in contact with animals nor had he any other way of contracting the diarrhoea-causing disease.
"The only risk was consuming Masterton's drinking water so, unfortunately, this is our first case," Dr Palmer said.
Masterton Hospital spokeswoman Anne McLean said the man had recovered from cryptosporidiosis but remained in hospital with other problems.
He was tested on Thursday with positive results the next day but the tests also showed the disease was weakening at that stage, indicating he had contracted it before entering hospital.
Meanwhile, Massey University research shows contact sports players are at risk of picking up the disease from other players.
Senior lecturer in microbiology and communicable diseases Stan Abbott said players should report herpes, impetigo, tinea, scabies and gastrointestinal upsets and infections such as cryptosporidiosis, salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis and giardiasis before playing.
- NZPA
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