Just in time for swimming season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a new report on disease outbreaks associated with swimming in rivers, lakes and oceans.
Between 2000 and 2014, public health officials in 35
states, plus Guam, reported a total of 140 disease outbreaks associated
with swimming in untreated recreational waters — mainly at beaches and
bodies of water in public parks, the report says. These outbreaks led to
4,958 illnesses and two deaths.
The vast majority of outbreaks with a confirmed cause were linked to gastrointestinal pathogens such as norovirus,
Shigella and E. coli. People typically get sick from these illnesses
when they accidentally ingest water contaminated by fecal matter. Such
contamination can happen through wastewater and sewage runoff, flooding
or someone defecating while swimming, the report says.
Most of the remaining outbreaks were caused by
parasites transmitted by birds present in recreational waters, toxins
and chemicals or harmful algal blooms, the report says. The two deaths
were caused by Naegleria fowleri, a rare type of freshwater ameba that
enters the nose and destroys brain tissue.
The majority of outbreaks struck between June and August, and nearly 60% happened in July.
Swimmers may be at a lower risk of infection if they
stick to “well-operated, treated recreational water venues,” the report
says — although a prior report from the agency
also detailed plenty of disease outbreaks that could be traced back to
hotel pools, hot tubs and other treated recreational waters.
Those who choose to swim in untreated waters
should use caution in those that are shallow, poorly circulating,
over-crowded, far from toilets and other hygiene facilities or
frequented by young children with “no or limited toileting skills,” the
report says. Swimmers should also steer clear of water that’s
“discolored, smelly, foamy or scummy” and avoid swimming after high
rains or floods, according to the CDC.
To reduce disease transmission, the CDC says people
should avoid entering public waters if they’re sick and do their best to
avoid swallowing water while swimming. Organizations that maintain
swimming areas should also try to minimize flooding and runoff
contamination, keep wildlife away from swimming areas as much as
possible and regularly monitor aquatic bacteria levels, the CDC says
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