Messing About On The Water

Sunday, July 3, 2016

For the intrepid among us who haven’t had quite enough rain exposure over the past few weeks, having fun on the water is a sure sign of summertime. Whether it’s taking the children canoeing, manning a dinghy, having a paddle or just fishing for sticklebacks, no day out in the English countryside would be complete without getting a bit wet.

But safety around water doesn’t end when you towel off and pack your bags for home. Weil’s disease is a bacterial infection which is carried in rats’ urine often found in water and wet river banks. It can be a serious illness requiring hospital treatment and, in extreme cases, it can lead to kidney or liver failure.

If you feel ill after coming into contact with water, particularly stagnant water, or if you suffer any flu-like symptoms including a high-temperature and aching joints, speak to your pharmacist or your GP and ask if it’s worth getting tested for Weil’s disease.

Of course, prevention is far better than cure. The bacteria enters the body via broken skin so there are a number of steps which can be taken to avoid being contaminated: