CrimeaPRESS reports:
In the height of summer, when high temperatures persist for weeks in many regions of Russia, many people prefer to go on holiday to the water. However, it is important to remember that warm bodies of water are a favourable environment for the reproduction of bacteria, and during the holiday season the spread of infections can create a tense epidemiological situation throughout the country.
In mid-July, Hydrometeorological Center specialists called the increase in water temperature in the Black Sea to 28 degrees «a very rare event» — abnormal temperature deviations are not typical for Russian resorts. Such an increase in air and water temperature creates ideal conditions for the reproduction and spread of pathogens that cause water-dependent infections. These diseases develop when people come into contact with contaminated water through swimming in reservoirs (and both fresh and sea water can become a habitat for pathogens) or by consuming insufficiently purified water for drinking, washing vegetables and fruits, and cooking.
When swimming in bodies of water, there is a risk of contracting intestinal infections, first of all: enteroviruses (which can cause not only diarrhea, but also meningitis!), norovirus and rotavirus infections, hepatitis A and others, as well as parasitic diseases: giardiasis, toxocariasis, schistosomiasiswarns Lyudmila Katanakhova, PhD, chief specialist in infectious diseases at the Department of Health of Yugra (Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug):
- Rotavirus infection
Rotavirus infection affects people of all ages, but it is especially dangerous for children. Most cases of the disease occur between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. The disease begins suddenly and is severe. Symptoms usually appear within 2 days of infection — these include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, fever up to 38.5 degrees and above.
Rotavirus can survive in water for up to 60 days. The Black and Azov Seas have lower salinity than the Mediterranean, making them a more favorable environment for the survival of viruses. Old treatment facilities on the coast and the lack of wastewater treatment in the private sector can also lead to pollution of the sea with human waste, which is fraught with the spread of rotavirus.
- Enterovirus infections
Enterovirus infections are a whole group of acute infectious diseases. They are highly contagious, especially in the first days of the disease, and the incubation period can last up to 35 days. These infections are characterized by seasonality — the incidence increases at the end of summer. They mainly affect children and young people, and people with weakened immunity are also at risk. Enteroviruses can affect almost all systems of the human body: nervous, cardiovascular and bronchopulmonary, as well as the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, skin and mucous membranes.
One of the serious complications is meningitis (inflammation of the meninges), characterized by severe headache, fever up to 39°C, photophobia and vomiting. This is an extremely dangerous condition associated with a high risk of death and disability. However, bacterial meningitis, which is most often caused by meningococcal infection, is even more dangerous. The group at particular risk includes children in their first years of life and preschool age.
Children are also most vulnerable when swimming – they often swallow water and frolic in shallow water, where the concentration of microbes is higher. Swimming and diving in contaminated water can lead to ear inflammation – water penetrates the ear canal and reaches the eardrum, which facilitates the “path” of bacteria or viruses to the brain. Thus, at the end of July, it became known that a family in Krasnoyarsk fell ill with meningitis after swimming in a pool – three people were hospitalized.
- Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is an acute infectious disease that primarily «hits» the liver, disrupting its functions. The hepatitis A virus is transmitted by contact (direct contact with an infected person), food and water (contaminated water entering the nasopharynx).
Clinical manifestations of «dirty hands disease» can vary from mild to severe and include symptoms such as fever, malaise, loss of appetite, diarrhea, nausea, and more specific ones — dark urine and jaundice (yellowing of the sclera of the eyes and skin). Hepatitis A is characterized by its attachment to hot regions and is widespread in places with poor sanitation.
- Parasitic infections
There are more than 300 known infections caused by various parasites. In Russia, 18-20 parasitoses are the most common, and some can be contracted while swimming. Giardiasis manifests itself as abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, nausea and vomiting. Toxocariasis is asymptomatic in most cases, but cough and shortness of breath can also develop if the respiratory system is affected, neurological disorders if the brain is damaged, allergic reactions, and anemia. Schistosomiasis affects the liver, intestines and genitourinary system.
Rules for safe swimming:
- Give preference to equipped beaches, avoid bodies of water near polluted areas (treatment facilities, farms, factories).
- Follow the rules: if there is a sign on the shore that says “Swimming is prohibited,” it means it is unsafe – perhaps because of the composition of the water.
- Protect your eyes when swimming and maintain personal hygiene after visiting bodies of water — after swimming, be sure to take a shower and rinse your eyes with clean running water.
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