KING COUNTY, WA - To ensure healthy swimming, Public Health - Seattle & King County recommends that residents reduce exposure to bacteria and other organisms in lake water that pose potential health risks.
"Bacteria and other organisms are present in all lake water, and sometimes their presence can make people sick or at least uncomfortable," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "Simple steps can be taken to reduce recreational water illnesses."
Recreational water illnesses
Recreational water illnesses are caused by germs like Cryptosporidium, Giardia, E. coli 0157:H7, and Shigella and are spread by accidentally swallowing water that has been contaminated with fecal matter.
Public Health recommendations:
- Keep lake water out of your mouth.
- If infants go into the water, they should wear tight fitting impermeable liners (such as plastic pants) around diapers to prevent an accidental fecal discharge into the water.
- Do not swim in a lake if you have had a fever or experienced nausea or diarrhea within the last 48 hours.
All public beaches in King County that have been tested this year have shown safe levels of bacteria. Water quality testing will continue on a weekly basis throughout the summer.
Swimmer's itch
"Unlike some other bacteria and organisms, the parasites that lead to swimmer's itch are annoying but not dangerous," said Gary Irvine, Environmental Health Manager at Public Health.
Public Health recommendations:
- Do not feed the ducks and geese. Their droppings are the cause of swimmer's itch, and they cause fecal coliform contamination of the lake water.
- People can reduce the risk of contracting swimmer's itch by taking a hot soapy shower immediately after leaving the water or briskly drying the entire body, including the skin under the swim suit, with a towel.
To learn more about how to prevent recreational water illnesses, please visit the CDC's healthy swimming webpages at http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming.
To learn about bacterial levels at major King County lakes, please visit http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/waterres/swimbeach/default.aspx
