Author Archives: Michelle Mazur

Shigellosis outbreak in Ohio

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Franklin County and Columbus, Ohio are currently suffering from a shigellosis outbreak.  Since June 1, the city and Franklin County health departments have recorded 100 cases of infection with Shigella, which causes diarrhea and is easily spread from person to person.  This is in stark contrast to the 13 cases reported in 2007.

The source of the infection is still unknown, but Columbus Public Health workers are focusing on day-care centers where the disease might be spreading.

Shigellosis can cause diarrhea, which may be bloody, as well as severe dehydration and stomach cramps.  The bacteria is typically most severe in the immunocompromised, such as infants and the elderly

Shigella is usually passed from stools to fingers, or through poor hand washing habits. Food handlers who failed to wash their hands can also transmit it through infected food.  Shigella also has been known to contaminate pools, so people should avoid swimming if suffering from diarrhea.  The best way to avoid shigellosis is through good hand washing practices.

Columbus and Franklin County’s health commissioners, advise the following practices to limit the spread of this infection:
* Wash hands with soap carefully and frequently, especially after going to the bathroom, after changing diapers, and before preparing foods or beverages.
* Do not swim or prepare food for others while ill with diarrhea.
* Dispose of soiled diapers properly and disinfect diaper changing areas after using them.

Illness in Texas jail affects 543 inmates

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Half of the Galveston County Jail in Texas has fallen sick, many of them vomiting and experiencing diarrhea and stomach cramps.  Prisoners began complaining of stomach cramps and other symptoms at about 5 p.m. last Wednesday, and county health officials were called to test food for contamination and help identify the cause.

At one point at least 543 prisoners were experiencing signs of illness.  Jail staff suspected that the illness may have been caused by an earlier meal, and officials quarantined numerous food items.  Bologna sandwiches and food served with them were being examined for contamination.

Test results from the sampled food have not yet been released.

Possible suspects could be norovirus, Salmonella or E. coli, among others.  In an outbreak such as the one in the Galveston County Jail, the close proximity of the prisoners to one another can increase the severity of an outbreak. 

Arizona: Phoenix pool closures due to Cryptosporidium

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Phoenix city officials have announced that all city pools will be closed after reports of 35 people who swam at Starlight Pool, including 14 from the pool staff, developing symptoms of cryptosporidium.

The city of Phoenix says that while the water at all of its pools has been tested and "has continued to meet all water quality standards," it is taking extra precautions.  To treat the pools, parks staff is super-chlorinating all of the pools to a level of 40 parts per million of chlorine and maintaining that level of chlorine for 40 hours. The Centers for Disease Control recommends 20 parts per million, but the City of Phoenix is using 40 parts per million to be safe.

Last summer Utah suffered an outbreak of cryptosporidium.  Colorado has also suffered outbreaks.  Hopefully this summer’s outbreak will be quickly contained and taken care of to avoid large numbers of sickness.

And of course, when using the bathroom at the pool, always wash your hands.

Dane Cook in trouble for dog poop

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Dane Cook recently spent time in a Beverly Hills courthouse fighting allegations that his mini-Pinscher, named Beast, poops all over his apartment complex.  The management of La Fontaine in West Hollywood took the comedian to court to have him evicted on grounds that he was not properly cleaning up after his dog.

"Neither he nor his girlfriend pick up after the dog," said a source.  "They’ve sent him three notices so far over the last year warning him he’ll be evicted, and they have video. The neighbors all hate him."

Cook’s rep, Ina Treciokas, told the press in April: “Dane vigorously denies the allegations in the complaint and is looking forward to complete vindication through the legal proceedings.”

On Tuesday, the building manager took the stand and told the court that the actor is a serial offender, despite the signs in the gardens warning against animals pooping on the lawn.  He also said he noticed "recurring small black poop being left behind in the backyard."  The manager is alleged to have video footage of Cook’s pooch committing the offense.
 
Cook faced a trial by jury and he was found guilty 11-1.  His landlord can now officially evict him.

Dog poop contains common pathogens such as tapeworms, roundworms, cryptosporidium, salmonella, e.coli, and many others.  The owners should always  and after picking up dog poop hands should always be washed.

Scooping Poop

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“Pick up your dogs’ droppings.”

I’ve seen the street signs for years, but I always thought it was the yuck factor.   As I’ve grown up and gone through high school biology, I’ve learned that it’s not just the yuck factor, it’s also the sick factor.  Dog waste on the sidewalk is a significant contributing factor to the spread many disease, bacteria and protozoa.  Some of the common pathogens are tapeworms, roundworms, cryptosporidium, salmonella, e.coli, parvovirus and many others.

One of the worst culprits is the tapeworm.  They are the single most common infection transmitted by discarded dog poop in United States.
Tapeworms are caused by the ingestion of flea larvae, but also can be caused if an owner tracks flea larvae-contaminated dog poo into the house and a pet is exposed.  In the veterinary clinic I work at during the summers, tapeworms are commonly referred to as rice worms.  They’re easily treated with flea preventative and tapeworm treatment, but even more easily prevented by properly disposing of animal poop.

Doggie doo is also an environmental pollutant.  If the waste is not picked up it will run into the sewers with the rain.  This leads to contaminated streams and seawater.

According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, Americans owned 68 million dogs in 2000, and 40% of these dogs were large dogs over 40 pounds.  This adds up to a large mess if owners don’t clean up after their pets.

Pet poop is a problem, but what’s the solution?  Many cities have laws concerning scooping poo.  Most states will issue a ticket ranging from $25 to $200 for leaving a dog’s business on the sidewalk.  Australia has even gone so far as to have their own plain clothes poop police approaching irresponsible owners to change their behavior.

How do we take care of it?  Common recommendations are to carry a “doggie doo-doo” sack along when taking a pet out for a walk.  Using flea preventative will help prevent a pet from developing tapeworms from ingesting any flea larvae on their own skin, but they are still susceptible to flea larvae in the environment.  Annual distemper/parovirus vaccinations from a licensed veterinarian will help protect dogs from parvovirus, which is spread through fecal material.

Most importantly, wash your hands after picking up animal waste.  Otherwise get ready for those tapeworms.

The Problem of Poop in the Pool

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Cryptosporidium and norovirus continue to be problems in public swimming pools, but many other kinds of illnesses can also be contracted from contaminated pool water. Including giardia, E. coli, and Shigella; collectively, all these diseases are known as recreational water illnesses (RWIs).  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines RWIs as illnesses that are spread by swallowing, breathing, or having contact with contaminated water from swimming pools, spas, lakes, rivers, or oceans.  The main culprit for RWIs is poop in the pool.

Poop needs to be removed as soon as it’s spotted in the pool.  If it’s formed stool, swimmers should exit the pool and the poop must be fished out of the pool without breaking it apart.  Breaking the stool apart will release any harmful bacteria within it.  Bacteria can still leech out of formed stool, but the sooner it’s removed the less likely that bacteria will escape.  The pool must be properly treated before any swimmers can be allowed back into the pool.  The CDC recommends raising the chlorine content of the water to 2.0 ppm (parts per million) for 30 minutes.

Diarrhea is a much more severe problem.  Diarrheal accidents are much more likely than formed stool to contain germs.  In this case, swimmers must exit the pool while the pool is treated.  As much as possible of the fecal matter should be removed using a net or scoop.  The chlorine will need to be raised to 20 ppm for 13 hours or 10 ppm for 26 hours.  In most cases of diarrhea, the pool must be closed for an extended period of time.

Of course poop in the pool is a problem in private pools as well as commercial pools.  Parents soon forget that their kiddie pool in the backyard must be treated in a similar manner when there is poop in the pool.  In the case of small pools in the backyards, most do not have filters, so the entire pool must be emptied and scrubbed out with a strong bleach detergent.

Poop in the pool is a major health hazard.  Luckily there are proven ways for pool managers to combat RWIs.  Preventative measures include asking people suffering from diarrhea or infants with diapers to refrain from using the pool.  Have a safe summer and help keep poop out of the pool.