Updated July 22 at 11:45 a.m. with additional information

City of Austin officials have advised residents against swimming in Bull Creek District Park in Northwest Austin after three people contracted an infectious disease.

The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department and the city’s Parks and Recreation and Watershed Protection departments issued a health advisory July 22 after confirming three residents contracted shigellosis, an illness that causes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps and can last for four to seven days.

All three people had reported swimming at Bull Creek District Park, located along Loop 360 and parts of Spicewood Springs Road, one to two days before onset of symptoms. High levels of bacteria, or fecal coliforms, were found in the creek, which flows into Lake Austin.

A/TCHHSD regularly tests Bull Creek twice every other week for bacteria levels, said Carole Barasch, manager for communications and community development at A/TCHHSD.

"It’s important to note that there is always a risk associated with swimming in natural bodies of water whether there is an advisory or not," she said.

For more information, visit www.austintexas.gov/department/health.

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