Heat and rising water temperatures increase the risk of infections such as vibriosis, swimmer's ear and gastroenteritis. These are experts' recommendations to prevent them.
Soaring temperatures are not only making this a record-breaking summer in Europe, but they may also increase the risk of water-related infections, such as vibriosis, swimmer's ear, gastroenteritis and certain infections of the skin and urinary tract.
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Against the backdrop of longer and hotter summers, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has warned that certain bacteria are finding ever more favourable conditions in which to thrive, particularly in warm coastal waters with low salinity.
Although the risk of contracting these infections remains low, experts stress that a few simple precautionary measures can drastically reduce the chances of infection over the summer months, when millions of people head to beaches, swimming pools, rivers and other bathing areas to cool off.
Heat encourages bacterial growth
According to the ECDC, the rise in water temperatures, combined with environmental changes and increased travel during the summer, is changing how some infectious diseases are distributed across Europe.
One of the most notable is vibriosis, an infection caused by bacteria of the Vibrio genus, which occur naturally in certain coastal waters during the warmest months of the year.
These bacteria multiply particularly in areas of low salinity, such as estuaries and river mouths, and can also be found in raw or undercooked shellfish, especially oysters. Some species, such as Vibrio vulnificus, have become popularly known as 'flesh-eating bacteria' because, in very rare cases, they can cause severe infections in body tissues.
The European agency has even updated an interactive map that shows where the risk of infection may be higher, depending on environmental conditions.
Who is most at risk?
Anyone can develop an infection; however, the ECDC notes that the risk of serious illness is higher in people with weakened immune systems, chronic liver disease or other underlying health conditions.
For these groups, taking extra care when swimming and when eating seafood is particularly important.
How to avoid infection when swimming
Most cases can be prevented with very simple measures. The ECDC's main recommendation is to avoid contact with water if you have open wounds, cuts, grazes or recent piercings, as bacteria can enter the body through broken skin.
If it is not possible to stay out of the water, it advises covering wounds with a completely waterproof dressing. Once out of the water, it is also advisable to wash any cut or graze with clean fresh water to reduce the risk of infection.
Experts also recommend taking care with shellfish consumption. Avoiding raw or undercooked oysters and other shellfish, and thoroughly cooking seafood products, helps prevent Vibrio infection.
Although the ECDC highlights areas such as the Baltic Sea and some European estuaries as offering the most favourable conditions for Vibrio to grow, the agency points out that warming waters linked to climate change are expanding the areas where these bacteria can thrive.
It therefore underlines the importance of keeping to simple preventive measures and of monitoring environmental conditions throughout the summer months.
