The water park has been disinfected and is safe and open for business, the city says. (City of Temple photo)

TEMPLE (August 12, 2011)—Temple’s Lions Junction Family Water Park has been linked to 10 cases of the parasitic diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis, but the park has been disinfected, inspected and is safe and open for business, health officials said Friday.

The Bell County Health District says it sent personnel to the water park on Tuesday, when it was closed for disinfection.

Earlier Friday, the City of Temple confirmed only that the park was linked to at least two cases of cryptosporidiosis, but said the issue has been resolved.

The Health District said one unrelated case in Killeen and one in Salado have been reported over the past two weeks, as well.

Of the 12 cases, five involved children younger than 5-years-old, and seven involved adults between 23 and 45, the Health District said.

The first of the 12 cases was reported on July 29, health officials said.

Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrheal disease that’s caused by microscopic parasites called Cryptosporidium.

The parasites live in the intestines of both humans and animals and can be spread when water from swimming pools is swallowed.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says an outer shell protects that parasite and makes it resistant to chlorine-based disinfectants.

The parasites are one of the most common causes of waterborne disease, the CDC says.

Common symptoms include stomach cramps or pain, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, fever and weight loss, although some people with cryptosporidiosis will have no symptoms at all, the CDC says.

Symptoms generally appear within two to 10 days of infection and last one to two weeks, the CDC says.