In immediately’s episode of “is this real life,” Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. determined it was a good thought to spend the weekend swimming (and take his grandchildren for a dip) in Rock Creek, a not-safe-for-swimming-or-wading physique of water in Washington, D.C.
The Health and Human Companies secretary posted photographs of himself dunking his total head underwater in waters which are recognized to comprise excessive ranges of micro organism, in response to the Nationwide Park Service. Rock Creek can also be recognized to comprise sewage.
“One of the most common bacteria that is has been found in Rock Creek and in, really, any bodies of water that may have sewage contamination, chances are they’re going to have E. coli,” mentioned Dr. Anita Patel, a pediatric essential care physician in Washington, D.C.
“The creek has had a historically high level of E. coli in the water, and that E. coli, as we know, can cause very severe illness in humans and even in pets,” mentioned Jessica Malaty Rivera, an infectious illness epidemiologist.
This is the reason the swimming and wading restrictions are in place, Malaty Rivera added — to maintain individuals and pets secure.
“It’s the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] themselves who are the ones that have measured the types of colonies of bacteria in this and have said it exceeds any safe values that would allow people to wade in it,” Malaty Rivera mentioned.
Past being dangerous to individuals, it could actually additionally disrupt the wildlife of the creek, she famous. “So, it’s pretty rogue to do it for a number of reasons,” Malaty Rivera mentioned.
You shouldn’t observe Kennedy’s lead and go for a dip in water recognized to be contaminated for a lot of causes. Right here’s why consultants are so mad that he did it.
These waters might be contaminated with E. coli, which may trigger diarrhea and vomiting, and, in uncommon circumstances, can result in kidney failure.
“It’s helpful to compare it to the big recalls of contaminated lettuce,” mentioned Patel. On the subject of lettuce, there are frequently E. coli outbreaks all through the US. And, as talked about above, waters contaminated with sewage (comparable to Rock Creek) additionally carry an E. coli danger.
“For humans, [E. coli] can cause diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting, cramps, loss of appetite, fatigue. It’s not a pleasant experience. It’s a pretty it can be a very severe form of gastroenteritis,” Malaty Rivera mentioned.
“If you’re really unlucky, [the contaminated water or lettuce is] going to have the strain of E. coli called E. coli O157. And the scary part about that E. coli is, particularly in children, it’s always the children, it can cause a rare but potentially lethal condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome, and it’s one of those conditions that’s really rare to the general public,” mentioned Patel.
“In the lettuce comparison, when you hear about people that got sick from E. coli, the ones that you hear about as the general public are the ones that end up on dialysis or have kidney failure, necessitating a kidney transplant,” Patel mentioned. “Well, HUS or hemolytic uremic syndrome is that condition that can cause essentially, kidney failure, but it really actually causes inflammation of all the vessels in your body, and that then results in kidney failure,” she added.
The bulk of people that eat contaminated lettuce or swim in contaminated water are going to finish up with diarrhea, vomiting and different gastroenteritis signs, Patel pressured, however for kids, contracting HUS generally is a concern.
Whereas the syndrome is uncommon, “I would say I can’t go a quarter without having a patient with HUS,” Patel mentioned.
“So, it’s one of those things that’s rare to the general public, but if you’re a pediatric ICU doctor, you’ve probably taken care of it more times than you can count,” she added.
bymuratdeniz by way of Getty Photographs
You don’t must go underwater to get sick.
It’s not a good suggestion to even splash round water that’s recognized to be contaminated. Whereas dunking your head underneath carries probably the most danger for E. coli an infection, your arms can even develop into contaminated with the water, and for those who contact your mouth, you may find yourself sick, famous Patel.
Past E. coli, different micro organism and pathogens from contaminated water can pose threats to you, too.
“Our skin is our largest organ, and if you have cuts on your skin, bacteria can enter through cuts. It can enter through orifices,” mentioned Malaty Rivera.
“Thinking of your genitals… your genitals are very sensitive area, and that can be affected as well. There are things that can go through our bodies without having to enter through our mouth, nose and eyes,” Malaty Rivera added.
You shouldn’t swim or contact water with excessive ranges of micro organism, however for those who by chance come into contact with it, hold a couple of issues in thoughts.
First, for those who by chance are available contact with contaminated water, wash your arms and your self.
Second, don’t panic, Patel mentioned. “Because, in truth, the majority of cases are diarrheal illnesses,” she added.
“But, if a reader, unfortunately, ends up finding out that they swam in contaminated water, I would say that this is the best of a worst-case scenario in that you know early on to be on high alert,” famous Patel.
You’ll be able to monitor your self and your family members for diarrhea and vomiting, together with the scarier signs of extreme dehydration (which may happen on account of the diarrhea and vomiting) like rare peeing or lethargy, Patel mentioned.
In the event you discover these extreme signs in your self, your kids or your family members, it’s essential to get to the hospital ASAP, as early interventions can assist fight the sickness and shield the kidneys (notably for kids) from the kidney failure talked about above.
Specialists say RFK Jr.’s contaminated water swim signifies his opposition to public well being steering.
Whereas swimming in a physique of water that’s off-limits and unsafe for people or pets is just not advisable, consultants suppose Kennedy’s act signifies extra.
“The reason we’re concerned is not just that he’s doing it himself, we’re concerned [about] the precedent that he might be sending to disobey regulations that are intended to protect the public,” Malaty Rivera mentioned.
This isn’t the primary time Kennedy has gone in opposition to public well being analysis and tips. He’s advised various measles therapies, which have made individuals extra sick within the rising Texas measles outbreak, dismissed CDC autism findings and unfold misinformation about autism as an alternative and falsely said that Black individuals want a special vaccine schedule than white individuals.
Sadly, going in opposition to public well being steering and taking a dip in contaminated water aligns along with his “buck the system” angle.
“Not to mention the fact that this is a very eerie time where we’re seeing the dismantling, the defunding of the actual agencies that are intended to create these guidelines to protect people, including at EPA,” Malaty Rivera mentioned.
“Just earlier this month, EPA announced it’s going to split up the main arm devoted to scientific research — they were going to essentially gut the team that is responsible for assessing health risks from chemical exposure,” she mentioned.
“It’s almost too on the nose that we’re talking about the agency, the Environmental Protection Protection Agency, that is intended to provide these guidance of measurements of everything from how much of a bacteria or a chemical you can be exposed to and not be harmed. And we’re going to start seeing that disappear,” added Malaty Rivera.
“It’s really serious,” Patel mentioned, “and I guess just yet another example of why all of us in the healthcare field were so terrified of someone like RFK [Jr.] at the helm of our healthcare system right now.”
