Each year, swimmers and surfers on American coasts from Southern California to South Florida suffer what some beach goers have dubbed the Malibu flu, a name derived from one of the first places it was described. Bacterial and viral illnesses picked up in the Pacific Ocean remain a source of summertime illness. But it is not ocean swimming alone that has been traced to outbreaks of “swimmer’s flu.” In Oregon several years ago a nonfatal epidemic of Escherichia coli 0157:H7 -- the same bacterium implicated in infecting children through undercooked beef -- was traced to a recreational swimming area where it had contaminated the water. In one case in Great Britain, 30 people became ill after using a pool that a sick swimmer had vomited in during the opening day of the facility. Inadequate chlorination was blamed for the outbreak. The best prevention in these situations, say experts, is to make sure you do not swallow water and thoroughly wash after swimming. For people who go camping or hiking, the urge to quench one’s thirst at a cool stream or spring should be resisted. Even crystal -clear water can harbor harmful parasites, bacteria, and viruses. If you believe that the drinking water wherever you are is not pure, use bottled water for drinking. Boiling water also may be necessary after a weather-related catastrophe such as flooding, when your area’s drinking water may have become tainted. The process of sterilization by heating is termed pasteurization. Named for Louis Pasteur, the French scientist who discovered that high temperatures could kill harmful bacteria, pasteurization is a process the U.S. government requires for milk and many other foods. Many fruit drinks have been a long-time exception. However, federal officials now ask juice producers to indicate on labels that their products are unpasteurized. In 1996 several children became ill and one died after an outbreak of E. coli was linked to unpasteurized apple juice. Even the usually safe drinking water of towns and cities can cause illness on occasion. In 1993 in Milwaukee more than 400,000 cases of cryptosporidiosis, which can causeflu-like symptoms, were reported. Cryptosporidium infection, a common parasitic cause of diarrhea, can be spread through food or person-to-person contact, but water is the most common route. The infection causes nausea, watery diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramping. The organism, Cryptosporidium parvum, has been found in some beverages, as well as in wells and springs. The Milwaukee outbreak eventually was attributed to contamination of the city’s water supply. In some parts of the country, boiling water is recommended during seasonal variations in the water table. This is particularly true for people who are immunocompromised, which means they have weakened immune systems that make them more vulnerable to pathogens. In other areas, many residents purchase home filtration systems, which can be bought at home-improvement centers. Keep in mind that municipal water supplies are required to meet federal disinfection standards and benign sediments can give water a cloudy, tainted appearance, even when it is perfectly safe to drink. Last Updated: 8/19/2002
The Johns Hopkins University 1996-2003. All rights reserved. This information is not intended to provide advice on personal medical matters, nor is it intended to be a substitute for consultation. |
