Virginia’s health department is looking into roughly 20 cases of E. coli infections, mostly in children, that happened over Memorial Day weekend at Lake Anna.
The health department urges anyone who visited the lake in Louisa and Spotsylvania counties and experienced gastrointestinal illness to contact their local health department. E. coli infections can be serious, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Katherine G. McCombs, deputy director of the Division of Surveillance and Investigation at the health department’s Office of Epidemiology, says 68 percent of the cases involved children. Seven of the children who ended up with symptoms, such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and chills, were hospitalized, McCombs says.
One Fauquier County mother told ABC 7 that her 15-year-old daughter is fighting for her life and has been diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome. The syndrome affects a person’s kidneys and blood-clotting ability.
The health department said potential causes include lake water and food exposures. The E. coli illnesses are not suspected to be from Harmful Algal Blooms.
Water tests were done in early June to evaluate bacteria concentrations.
“The June Water Quality E. coli tests are in and the lake appears to be in the clear. Our normal June water quality samples were taken on June 2nd and we asked DEQ to rush the results,” the Lake Anna Civic Association said in a Facebook post.
The Department of Environmental Quality is conducting additional testing Tuesday at several locations on the lake. Results are expected within 48 hours. The sampling is essentially a “snapshot in time,” McCombs says.
No swimming advisories have been posted since the E. coli outbreak, but the health department urges caution if you go in the water.
“Showering before and after swimming, washing your hands before eating, and being sure not to drink the lake water are some of the ways to stay healthy this summer. It is also important not to swim if you have diarrhea. Children may need extra monitoring and reminders to follow these precautions,” said Dr. Olugbenga O. Obasanjo, the health director for the Rappahannock Health District.
The health department issued the guidance below to prevent illness when swimming and boating:
- Never drink untreated water, and don’t swim if skin has cuts or open wounds. Natural waters such as rivers, lakes, and oceans contain germs and contaminants, which can cause illness.
- Wash your hands after using the bathroom and before preparing and eating food.
- Avoid swimming if you are vomiting or have diarrhea.
- Avoid going in water if there is a green film on the water and keep pets out as well. This may indicate an algal bloom, and some algae produce toxins that can make people sick.
- Shower or bathe after swimming to wash off possible germs and contaminants.
- Avoid swimming for three days after a heavy rain. Germs can come from overflowing sewage, polluted storm water, and runoff from land.
- Properly dispose of human waste by discharging boat sewage at marinas with a pump-out unit or dump station.
Feature image by Matthew Carroll/stock.adobe.com
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