A CHILD contracted a rare and “serious” infection caused by animal pee after taking a dip in a popular swimming spot, a council said.
Dedham Parish Council in Essex said the local schoolboy contracted Weil’s disease after swimming in an Essex river.
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The child “suffered a serious infection after swimming in the River Stour in Dedham and is very unwell,” he said.
In a letter published on its website, the authority stated that it was a “confirmed case of Weil’s disease (leptospirosis) which could be very serious”.
The Environment Agency said its latest samples “do not suggest any water quality issues” at designated river bathing sites.
The disease spreads in the urine of infected animals, most commonly rats, mice, cows, pigs and dogs.
People can get Weil’s disease if soil or fresh water – such as river water – containing infected urine gets in their mouth, eyes or a cut.
Most people who contract Weil’s disease have no symptoms or only mild, flu-like symptoms.
However, some people can become seriously ill from the disease, according to the NHS.
Symptoms may include high temperature, headache, body aches, stomach pain, feeling sick, diarrhea, red eyes and yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes.
People who may have been exposed to infected urine and are experiencing symptoms are advised to see a GP.
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The River Stour runs through the border of Suffolk and Essex.
Dedham Parish Council said it wanted to ensure that both pupils and parents were aware of the risks involved before choosing to swim at Dedham.
The location becomes increasingly popular during the warmer months, with people traveling to picnic by the water and swim or go paddle boarding or kayaking, the BBC reported.
Dedham Parish Council said the Environment Agency is carrying out monitoring on the river in Dedham.
The parish council added that local environmental group Pace (Practical Action for Climate and the Environment) Manningtree is “investigating the impact of untreated sewage released into the river from Dedham sewage works”.
Meanwhile, the Environment Agency has issued a navigation warning to Dedham and all waterways, asking “river users [to be] especially aware and take sensible precautions in an attempt to reduce the risks of infection from all waterborne diseases.”
What are the symptoms of Weil’s disease?
WEIL disease – also known as leptospirosis – is an infection rarely seen in the UK, which is spread through the urine of infected animals.
Most commonly, this includes rats, mice, cows, pigs, and dogs.
You can get leptospirosis if:
- Soil or fresh water (such as water from a river, canal, or lake) that contains infected urine comes into contact with the mouth, eyes, or a cut, usually during activities such as kayaking, outdoor swimming, or fishing
- You touch the blood or flesh of an infected animal, usually when working with animals or animal parts
Most people who contract leptospirosis have no symptoms or mild, flu-like symptoms. But some people become seriously ill.
Symptoms of leptospirosis may include:
- High temperature
- Headache
- Body aches and pains
- Stomachache
- Feeling sick or being sick
- Diarrhea
- Redness in the whites of the eyes
- Yellowing of the skin (which may be harder to see on black or brown skin) or whites of the eyes
You should see a GP if you think you have been exposed to infected urine, water or soil and experience the above symptoms.
You will usually be given antibiotic tablets to treat the infection. Most people recover within a few days or weeks.
It’s important to finish your course of antibiotics, even if you start to feel better.
Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve pain or high fever.
If you have severe symptoms, you may need to be treated in hospital.
Source: National Health Service
He urged anyone planning to take a dip in the river to cover cuts, abrasions and open wounds to prevent infections from entering the body, repairing them if necessary between dips and practicing good hand hygiene.
“Be aware of the entry and exit routes of the river and the places where animals may have been present, as this is the most likely source of infection”, highlighted the agency.
He also urged swimmers to “take a shower as soon as possible if they come into contact with river water and to always wash their hands, especially before consuming food.”
The case comes amid growing outrage over the polluted state of England’s rivers and coasts.
The council said it wanted to warn, “in addition to the risks of Weil’s disease and pollution”, of a number of other “serious safety concerns” about a river site at Mill Lane.
This includes a report that a boy “cut his foot” last weekend, with rubbish, including glass bottles and cans, regularly left in the area and posing a danger.
There are also reports of metal work under a bridge where many children jump and where the water can be “dangerously shallow”.
Meanwhile, around 16,000 households and businesses in the Brixham area of Devon have been told not to use tap water for drinking without boiling and cooling it first, due to a series of confirmed cases of a water-borne illness caused by a microscopic parasite.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said last week that 46 cases of cryptosporidium had been confirmed and that more cases were expected.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
