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- NBC reportedly halted the production of an upcoming T.V. show called "Ultimate Slip' N Slide."
- The Wrap reported that a crew member tested positive for giardia, which can cause diarrheal disease.
- Up to 40 crew members reportedly fell violently ill after being exposed.
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NBC has indefinitely halted production for the upcoming game show "Ultimate Slip' N Slide" after a giardia outbreak.
The Wrap reported that at least one person tested positive for giardia on June 2, and many reported symptoms on its Simi Valley, California, set.
Up to 40 crewmembers reportedly fell violently ill during production, resulting in "awful explosive diarrhea" that left people "collapsing" and "being forced to run into port-o-potties," a person with knowledge of the production told The Wrap.
Giardia is a small parasite typically found in soil, food, or water that has been contaminated with feces from infected animals or people. The parasite can be spread from person to person, but the most common way people become infected is through ingesting contaminated drinking or recreational water.
According to the CDC, Giardia causes diarrheal disease giardiasis.
An NBC representative told The Wrap that the outbreak occurred with just five days left to film.
To determine the issue, the Wrap reported that the water used on the show was tested for parasites by the L.A. and Ventura County Health Departments, as well as a third-party company. The initial test results were negative for the set's water, but additional testing revealed that giardia was in the surrounding area.
A representative from Universal Television Alternative Studios, which is producing the show for NBC, told The Wrap that co-hosts Bobby Moynihan and Ron Funches are healthy.
"The health and safety of everyone on our set is our number one priority, so out of an abundance of caution we have made the decision to stop production of 'Ultimate Slip' N Slide' at the current location," a representative wrote in a statement. "We are in the process of determining next steps in order to complete production."
NBC did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
"Ultimate Slip' N Slide" was described as a "fresh take on Wham-O's iconic 1960s outdoor game" and "takes the spirit of the classic backyard slide and transforms it into a real-life water park full of gigantic slippery rides with the chance to take home a big cash prize," the report said.
The series is scheduled to debut on August 8 after the Summer Olympics' closing ceremony.