MagiStream

I think I may have found a place to swim. Keystone was originally a resort town where people would come to take the waters. The beach is still there and it's handi-accessible. The water wasn't deep, perhaps to my chest. I was watching people swim there on the 4th. Also, the swim area is roped off from the rest of the lake, although the notice about 'probable alligators' unnerves me.

I like swimming in pools and oceans, but not fresh-water sources. I've thought about it, and I've swum in lakes before, but after hearing about a little boy here in Texas who died last year after a bacteria got into his brain after he swam in a lake, I don't want to go any where near one. Especially after the temperatures here have been increasing the temperature of the water, thus giving the bacteria a better breeding ground in warm water, and when it can be found in just about every freshwater source in the state. It's incurable and 100% fatal. Most people die within a week. Not only can it be found in several water sources like lakes, ponds, rivers, and such, in can be found in quite a few southern states as well as some in the southwest and in other countries.

I guess the water would have to be cold enough for me to swim in fresh water sources without worrying about a killer bacteria.

wingsofsilver wrote:I like swimming in pools and oceans, but not fresh-water sources. I've thought about it, and I've swum in lakes before, but after hearing about a little boy here in Texas who died last year after a bacteria got into his brain after he swam in a lake, I don't want to go any where near one.

That has been partially my problem with fresh water sources. Right after I got to Florida, they had a death via meningitis because a boy had been swimming in a retention pond and an amoeba got into his brain via the ear canal.

However, when I researched the circumstances I learned that 1) one shouldn't swim in the man-made fresh water sources for just that reason; retention ponds and the like are made to catch rainfall and are usually stagnant. Those are the conditions parasites need to grow. 2) Most of the lakes around here come from the aquifer or springs, whose year-round temperature is between 68 and 72 degrees. The water has to be about 85 degrees and stagnant (no circulation of fresh water in or out) for the parasites to take hold.

Because of that, I'm willing to try it.

Well, another child died from the brain-eating amoeba this month, this time from swimming in a lake at a fishing camp in Virginia. Even if it isn't man-made and not stagnant, I'm still not swimming in fresh-water anymore unless the water is cold.

I suppose that would explain why I've never heard of anything of the such. Everywhere I've ever swum or heard of has been cold water. Even during the summer, the water never got above 60 degrees.

Ktanaqui wrote:I suppose that would explain why I've never heard of anything of the such. Everywhere I've ever swum or heard of has been cold water. Even during the summer, the water never got above 60 degrees.

Yeah, they only survive in warm waters.

And now they report two more have died, one girl in Florida and a man in Louisiana. Yay. I'm not surprised with the heat wave the states have been having this summer.

I'm not either, but it is odd, from what I understand anyhow, for there to be two deaths so closely together. It concerns me. And my mother didn't even know anything about it before today. She panicked, naturally.

Ktanaqui wrote:I'm not either, but it is odd, from what I understand anyhow, for there to be two deaths so closely together. It concerns me. And my mother didn't even know anything about it before today. She panicked, naturally.

I think, if someone were to do some investigating, that they would find that the those who die of amoebic infections were swimming in places they should NOT have been swimming or that the family's pool was improperly maintained. In order for amoebic infection to occur, the water needs to be still, stagnant, and above 85 degrees consistently (even one day below that temperature will kill the amoebas).

These creatures cannot live in swift running water, water that has any kind of current, or water which is below that temperature. That would exclude almost all habitats except retention ponds and decorative ponds (most of which are posted 'no swimming' for just that reason) and poorly maintained swimming pools. I've never heard of the amoebas being found in saunas, spas, or jacuzzis, probably because they don't like chlorination.

This article explains how it happens and why, also stating it's a rare summer hazard:

http://pediatrics.about.com/b/2011/08/1 ... hazard.htm

Here's the CDC's FAQ on the parasite in question:

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/faqs.html

According to all sources, it's not unusual to have up to six deaths a year from this parasite. The easiest way to prevent it is to properly maintain your pool and to not go swimming in apparently stagnant or slow moving water. Use a nose plug to prevent water entering the sinuses. Avoid hot springs during warmer weather.

I prefer pools because they're much safer, and honestly, I've never swam in lakes or creeks much. But I REALLY don't like swimming in oceans. The salt gets on your lips if you dink your head in.
I like to swim in pools also because other water sources have rough ground, and I really don't like that.

TxCat wrote:I think, if someone were to do some investigating, that they would find that the those who die of amoebic infections were swimming in places they should NOT have been swimming or that the family's pool was improperly maintained.

Another boy died, but he wasn't swimming anywhere he shouldn't have been. He was at a fishing camp for young children, in Virginia I believe.

And the man that died, he got infected from using tap water to flush his nasal passages. Can't remember what it's called, but some people use it as a treatment.