Variety of bugs lurking in pools, water parks
Bacteria and parasites are lurking in all kinds of water, so if you plan on taking a refreshing dip in the pool or other body of water this summer, use caution so these nasty bugs don’t put a damper on your fun.
Recreational water illnesses include a variety of infections that can affect the skin, ear, eyes, gastrointestinal tract and even the brain.
According to The Center’s For Disease Control, most are diarrheal illnesses caused by germs such as cryptosporidium, giardia, shigella, norovirus and E. coli 0157:H7.
“You can get sick from the water a few ways,” said Dee Jette, water resources bureau manager at the Davis County Health Department. “Swallowing water is probably the most common. Don’t swallow the water and tell your kids not to swallow the water. A lot of kids like to put water in their mouth and squirt out little fountains between their teeth. Tell them not to do that.”
People who don’t shower before they swim can also spread disease, said Jette.
“People need to thoroughly shower before they get into a public pool. For some reason we have gotten away from that. In the 1950s you couldn’t have set foot in a public pool without showering first,” she said. “Now, some people treat the pool like it’s their own personal bathtub.”
Weber-Morgan Health Department environmental health program manager, Michelle Cooke said the human body carries a certain amount of feces at all times. Completely showering with soap will help limit the risk of infection.
“Cryptosporidium and Giardia are tolerant to chlorine and can stay alive for days,” she said. “In fact, if there’s a diarrheal incident at a pool, we will pull everyone out, treat it and not allow anyone back in for 13 hours.”
In 2007, Utah experienced an outbreak of Cryptosporidium with a total of 1,902 confirmed cases
“It’s really important for people to shower before they get into the pool and not change diapers poolside. Take restroom breaks and wash your hands after you’re done,” Cooke said. “If you have diarrhea, do not get back in the water until you’ve been diarrhea free for two weeks. Even though you feel better, the body can still shed the illness.”
Other illnesses you can pick up from recreational water include shigella, norovirus, Avian schistosomes, leptospira, plesiomonas and rarely Naegleria fowleri, which can infect people when the ameba enters the body through the nose and into the brain, destroying brain tissue. This typically occurs when people are swimming or diving in warm freshwater places like lakes and rivers, according to the CDC.
Other ways you can get sick are through hot tubs, kiddie wading pools, sprinklers and hoses.
“Don’t drink the water out of your hose,” Jette said. “Most of the time it’s secondary water, but even if it’s house water I wouldn’t drink it, and again, if you’re running through the sprinklers close your mouth.”
Cooke and Jette said bugs don’t have to ruin your fun in recreation water. Just take a few simple steps to protect yourself and others by showering, washing your hands, not swallowing the water and staying away until you’re healthy again.
