From the Department of Health-Orange County
Soon local schools will be closed for the summer and swimming activities will be on everyone’s checklist. The Florida Department of Health-Orange County (DOH-Orange) encourages everyone to take a role in preventing injuries, drownings, and illnesses caused by germs in the water.
DOH-Orange reminds families to be safe when enjoying freshwater activities, especially the week before Memorial Day which is recognized as Healthy and Safe Swimming Week (May 20 – 26, 2019). This year’s theme is “Pool Chemistry for Healthy and Safe Swimming.”
Preventing Disease Outbreaks
Chemicals like chlorine are added to pool water to kill germs and stop them from spreading, helping to keep swimmers healthy. However, mishandling pool chemicals can cause injuries. Operators of public pools, hot tubs/spas, or water playgrounds and owners of residential pools or hot tubs/spas can take steps to prevent pool chemicals injuries, such as reading and following directions on product labels of pool chemicals before using them. Visit https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/index.html.
Naegleria fowleri
Take precautions when enjoying fresh water activities locally or when traveling abroad, especially swimming in warm freshwater lakes, hot springs, rivers, creeks, and ponds to avoid Naegleria fowleri. It’s a naturally occurring amoeba that can be found in any body of fresh water and in poorly maintained swimming pools and hot tubs. The amoeba is not found in salt water.
The amoeba can cause an infection known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Almost always fatal, the amoeba travels up the nose to the brain and spinal cord. This generally happens during activities such as swimming, diving, waterskiing or wakeboarding.
Infections usually occur when it is hot for prolonged periods of time, which results in higher water temperatures and lower water levels.
Although infections are rare, most prove to be fatal. Seek medical care immediately if you develop a sudden onset of fever, headache, stiff neck, and vomiting especially if you have been in warm freshwater within the previous 2 weeks.
People should always assume there is a low level of risk for infection whenever entering warm fresh water.
Below are some tips to help reduce your risk of infection.
For information on the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/index.html.
About the Florida Department of Health
The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.
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