Parasite causes closing of public pool in Belleville

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[BELLEVILLE - Belleville Mayor Mark Eckert says the city's swimming pool will remain closed for the rest of the season because a parasite has been found in its water.

Eckert said Wednesday afternoon that the city has decided to err on the side of safety, especially because the pool's season is near its end.

The public pool typically goes to a reduced schedule once school starts in August and closes for the season on Aug. 29.

Officials shut down the pool Monday after reports of diarrhea in four people who had recently used it.

Officials determined the illness was caused by the parasite cryptosporidium, which can live in the intestines of humans and animals. The parasite can survive outside the body for long periods of time and is resistant to chlorine, so it's easily passed on in pools.