Past Cure-All: Current Health Risk

According to a recent news article on iol.co.za, a flesh eating bacteria known as Vibrio vulnificus is a threat to swimmers and surfers, especially when swimming close to river mouths (of which there are many on our coast and one, the Umfolozi, close to St Lucia), after a storm or with an open wound.

Dr Peter Breedt, a doctor in Hillcrest, Durban, became gravely ill after surf skiing from Durban's uShaka Beach to the Bluff and back in November.  When entering the water he noticed a sulphury smell but thought nothing of it until his health took a turn for the worse. 
Within six hours he became violently ill and a black patch had developed on his foot.  He took antibiotics and underwent three operations and skin grafts to remove and replace the dead skin.  He has only just recovered from the illness, however, the wound has still not healed.  He is lucky, not only to be alive, but also not to have lost the limb and attributes his recovery to his medical knowledge and quick actions.

Leading water quality expert, Microbiologist and Dean of Stellenbosch University's science department, Professor Cloete, has warned of the dangers of swimming in the sea when one has cuts, wounds or chronic liver disease.  The latter allows contaminated water (when swallowed) to enter the bloodstream via the gastro-intestinal tract.

Vibrio vulnificus is one of the most dangerous pathogens that occurs in the ocean, it grows where salt concentrations are high and temperatures warm.  This effectively makes the East Coast of South Africa a breeding ground for the bacteria in summer and, in essence, sea water, once a fantastic cure-all, has become a possible threat to our health.

Many Durban surfers have contracted vomiting and diarrhoea bugs and are noticing an increase in ear infections which could be contributed to poor water quality.  When interviewed by the Independent on Saturday, six surfers noted the inferior quality of the water in which they surfed.

eThekweni Municipality deputy head of water and sanitation technical support stated that the water is tested five times a month at 33 beaches including Wedge Beach, North Beach and uShaka on which R3M is spent annually.  Even so, the public should avoid swimming near river mouths and stormwater outlets within 24 hours of a storm.  Heavy storms, a common occurrence on the east coast during summer months, are likely to impact beach water quality until the rivers return to their normal flow.

With the hottest month of summer underway, we urge St Lucians to take care when swimming in the sea.  Health authorities are advising against swimming in the sea with open wounds or even scratches but we also need to be careful not to swim anywhere near river mouths. 

For St Lucia, the Umfolozi River mouth is closest and therefore poses the greatest threat for us.  If the water looks dirty or murky and smells bad, rather seek out a swimming pool in which to swim.