diseases, like stomach bugs and diarrhea, are linked to swimming in public pools, according to the CDC.
When entering a public pool, the scent of chlorine shouldn’t be a green light to jump right in. What you’re smelling isn’t clean water. It is, in fact, the opposite.
“It’s really a problem because the dose to get infected is so small and the amount that can be excreted is so many many times larger,” Dr. Radhika Gharpure, an epidemic intelligence services officer with the CDC, told weather.com.
The total number of outbreaks is likely higher than the actual count reported, the CDC says, adding that outbreaks – two or more infected individuals linked to a single place – of the disease have risen roughly 13 percent per year.
Crypto doesn’t just come from swimming pools and water parks, but it’s where you’re most likely to contract it. In the study, such sites accounted for more than 35 percent of all outbreaks and more than 56 percent of all the infected people. It’s also the reason crypto outbreaks and individual infections peak in the warmer months of June to September, when more people are swimming.
“The point to emphasize is this is a really tough bug to kill,” said Gharpure. “Crypto has this outer shell that allows it to survive in the environment and it’s not susceptible to chlorine or other disinfectants like alcohol. So, because of that, it can survive in these pools, even ones that are properly chlorinated.”
Because of its potency, crypto is the single greatest source of waterborne outbreaks among humans in the U.S., the CDC notes.
Pool Safety Tips for Non-Swimmers
In 2018, about 70 percent of Black people don’t know how to swim, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number one cause of death in American children between the ages of 1-4, is drowning.
How can we keep our selves and children safe this year in the community pools, beaches, and lakes? Here are some pretty important safety tips to always keep in mind for non-swimmers who still want to make a splash:
Lifeguards Are Your Bestfriends
When swimming at the public pool or beach, swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards. If they’re there, they keep a close eye on everyone in their sight. Be near them if possible.
Always Stay With The Group
Make sure to