SLP: Housing Recreational Areas and Bathing Facilities Disaster Sanitation - Essay Example

Illnesses Associated to Contaminated Beach Water Following the storm Regina, we are advising swimmers and surfers to skip their beach surfing routines in the next few days. Beaches would be temporarily closed to public as the recent test on beach water were found to be contaminated with pathogens and there is an elevated bacteria level due to runoff cause by the recent storm. Exposure to pathogens through accidentally swallowing contaminated water, or through entry into nose, ear and open wounds can cause sickness.

Some of the most common illnesses which can be contracted while swimming and or surfing to contaminated water and or when bacteria levels in beaches are beyond normal are Gastroentiritis ,it is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract caused by several strain of viruses such as rotavirus, calicivirus, reovirus, astroviruses , cryptosporidium, giardia, shigella, e.coli and norovirus. Symptoms include chills, nausea, diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Next is Amoebiasis it is an infectious disease caused by parasite called Entamoeba histolytica.

Symptoms includes prolonged diarrhea with bleeding, abscesses of the liver and small intestine. Third is Cercarial dermatitis also popularly known as Swimmer's itch. It is a skin rash caused by treaties parasite (Fenig) (2010) or by an allergic reaction to parasites. Its symptoms include burning itchiness. Lastly, Respiratory illness such as Legionnaire’s Disease can easily be catched. This illness is characterized by high fever, muscle ache and cough. It is caused by a virus legionella. A person can contract the bacteria by simply inhaling mist that is contaminated by legionella.

Challenges in Monitoring Surfers usually complains of late announcement and advisory on the safety of beach waters. Though, the BEACH Act 2000 are already in effecter. Currently, the method use to determine the bacteria level on our beaches is through assessing the E-coli, enterococci , and fecal coliforms concentration through membrane filtration. However, such process takes about 18-24 hours to complete or to see if the level of harmful pathogens is beyond normal (Wheeler) (2007). Thus, it is quite difficult to warn the public on ‘real time’ safeness or danger that our beach water poses to swimmers and surfers.

The challenge as of the moment is how to make the bacteria testing faster and better. In response, some researchers are now developing ‘nowcasts’ ,a procedure which includes the evaluation of relationship between concentrated bacteria to wind direction, onshore conditions and near shore conditions Warning Information If the beach water which was recently tested, indicates there was a high level concentration of E-coli, enterococci , and fecal coliforms a Beach Closure is recommended to warn individuals and families who are planning to go to the beach.

There was large amount of bacteria that was deposited to our shoreline beach waters from different polluted sources which included an accidental sewage discharge which were carried onto beaches and oceans, posing a great health risk to swimmers and surfers. References: 1. Wheeler L., 2007, Beach water testing always comes too late, Retrieved June 4,2011 from http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2007-08-07-beaches-too-late_N.htm 2. Fenig,B., 2010, 9 Surprising Diseases You can catch at the beach: North Carolina, accessed from http://coastalcare.

org/2010/08/9-surprising-diseases-you-can-catch-at-the-beach/ 3.United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2002 National Beach Guidance and Required Performance,2002,accessed from http://water.epa.gov/grants_funding/beachgrants/chapter1.cfm .