CDC on swimming pool outbreaks
A recent report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explores disease outbreaks associated with treated recreational water and advises travellers on how best to prevent contamination.
According to the report, during 2000-14, 493 outbreaks associated with treated recreational water led to at least 27,219 confirmed cases of various diseases, and eight deaths. The CDC said that the aquatics sector, public health officials, bathers and parents of young bathers can take steps to minimise risk for outbreaks. These include not swimming if sick with diarrhoea, checking a hotel pool or hot tub’s inspection score using test strips that can be purchased from pool supply and hardware stores, and not swallowing the water.
The CDC also said that addressing the challenges presented by chlorine-tolerant and biofilm-associated pathogens requires ongoing attention to improving the design, construction, operation and management of public treated recreational water venues, including educating the public. It highlighted that the key message to the public, particularly those with younger bathers, is ‘don’t swim or let your kids swim if sick with diarrhoea’.