With summer here, you're probably looking forward to relaxing outside the office and relaxing by the pool. But the CDC has some bad news this morning for those of us who want to do just that: fecal bacteria in treated pool water can still make you sick, according to a CDC report. That's why it's important to heed warnings not to swim if you have active diarrhea, as this is one of the biggest culprits in spreading gastrointestinal illness.
While all public pools can pose a risk, the CDC notes that hotel pools, spas, and hot tubs are the primary source of contamination, with 32 percent of cases caused by water contamination in pools at hotels, motels, hotels, and tourist lodges . And, the scary thing is, even if the water is treated, you can still get sick because some pathogens are resistant to chlorine. Over 14 years, 493 outbreaks occurred in 46 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, resulting in 27,219 cases and 8 deaths.
Cryptosporidium — which causes gastrointestinal disease — is the most common infection. However, people are also infected with Legionella, which can cause severe pneumonia, and Pontiac fever, a milder illness with flu-like symptoms. Others develop pseudomonas infections, also known as hot tub rash.
The CDC states that a lack of proper water treatment chemicals and warm water increases the risk of Legionella and Pseudomonas, and that people with compromised immune systems or active respiratory infections are at higher risk for Legionella infection. And, while all poop can make you sick, the risk of diarrhea is higher than regular poop.
"As with most diarrheal diseases, as the diarrhea stops and the person's bowel movements return to normal, the number of bacteria found in each bowel movement decreases," the CDC explains in its Healthy Swimming section. "So the risk of a fecal event that develops is probably less than the risk of a diarrheal event that you might not see."
One of the most effective ways to avoid contracting waterborne pathogens is to avoid swallowing pool water. "The bacteria that cause recreational water illness may be spread when water contaminated with feces is swallowed," the CDC states. "How is it spread? If someone has diarrhea, that person can easily contaminate the entire aquatic site." "This water is accessible to all swimmers It's shared. It's not sterile. It's not drinking water." And while treating infected water can kill fecal bacteria, it can take several days before the water is safe to swim in. . "This means that even the best-maintained aquatic sites can spread bacteria."
For a hot tub infected with Legionella, the sanitation process is much more rigorous than just treating the water. The CDC says an infected hot tub must be drained, thoroughly disinfected, installed with a new filter, refilled and hyperchlorinated for 10 hours, then the entire system flushed, retested for pathogens, and reported to the state or local public health agency . One of the scariest things about Legionella is that it can also be spread through water droplets in the air.
"Legionella can grow in man-made environments, such as swimming pools and hot tubs, if the water is not maintained properly. These man-made water sources become a health problem when small water droplets containing the bacteria enter the air and are inhaled by people," Disease The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports in a Legionella fact sheet. "In rare cases, someone inhales Legionella when drinking water and it then enters the lungs 'down the wrong pipe'."
If you have symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches, headache, or fever, be sure to tell your doctor if you have recently used a hot tub, been on a cruise, or stayed in an air-conditioned hotel, which may also cause your Deterioration of health. spread pathogens. With summer just around the corner, it's easy to pretend you haven't read this story because ignorance is bliss. However, swimming in poop is not only disgusting, it can also make people sick. While you don't have to avoid all public pools, use your best judgment before taking a dip. You can also buy pool test strips on Amazon for less than $10 for extra peace of mind. Because, #TheMoreYouKnow, the less chance you have of swimming in fecal bacteria.
