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The Associated Press reports some disturbing data on the water quality in Rio De Janeiro, site of the 2016 Summer Olympics. Sewage treatment in Rio is in a sad state. There have been some half-assed efforts to build treatment plants, but they haven't kept pace with the city's rapid population growth, and most of the sewage just flows into rivers and streams untreated. The AP commissioned a study to measure bacteria and viruses in the outdoor water sport venues as well as some tourist beaches, and found dangerously high levels of pathogens in all of them.
Ivan Bulaja, the Croatian-born coach of Austria's 49er-class sailing team, has seen it firsthand. His sailors have lost valuable training days after falling ill with vomiting and diarrhea. "This is by far the worst water quality we've ever seen in our sailing careers," said Bulaja.
Training earlier this month in Guanabara Bay, Austrian sailor David Hussl said he and his teammates take precautions, washing their faces immediately with bottled water when they get splashed by waves and showering the minute they return to shore. And yet Hussl said he's fallen ill several times.
"I've had high temperatures and problems with my stomach," he said. "It's always one day completely in bed and then usually not sailing for two or three days." It is a huge risk for the athletes, the coach said.
"The Olympic medal is something that you live your life for," Bulaja said, "and it can really happen that just a few days before the competition you get ill and you're not able to perform at all."
Dr. Alberto Chebabo, who heads Rio's Infectious Diseases Society, said the raw sewage has led to "endemic" public health woes among Brazilians, primarily infectious diarrhea in children. By adolescence, he said, people in Rio have been so exposed to the viruses they build up antibodies. But foreign athletes and tourists won't have that protection.
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Friday July 31 2015, @11:28PM
Dr. Alberto Chebabo, who heads Rio's Infectious Diseases Society, said the raw sewage has led to "endemic" public health woes among Brazilians, primarily infectious diarrhea in children. By adolescence, he said, people in Rio have been so exposed to the viruses they build up antibodies. But foreign athletes and tourists won't have that protection.
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If they survive to sdolescence. What do you suppose Brasil's infant mortality rate is?
The conclusion to "The Hot Zone" asserts "the human race is a trillion pounds of meat just waiting for a virus". Many infections reduce your resistance to other pathogens, enabling opportunistic infection. There are many viruses in that water, some take a while before they show symptoms, by then the foreigners have returned home.
While they athletes know to take precautions most others will not, and the IOC and Brasilian government work hard to point out that water is tasty, cool and refreshing.
Mom worked in public health; her office had a subscription to Morbity And Mortlaity Weekly Report, no doubt is is online now.
It is important not just for public health staff but every physician to read that as it enables us to halt epidemic outbreaks before they reach critical mass.
About a year ago Russia blocked the import of American pork due to a swine epidemic in the American midwest. I read just a brief mention of it in The Columbian; it was only news because America wasnt earning as much coin from pork bellies as is commonly the case.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]