E.coli bacteria have been detected in the water supply inside Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, according to an advisory issued by the National Park Service (NPS).
An announcement Friday warned visitors at Phantom Ranch, a lodge at the bottom of the Grand Canyon’s south end in Arizona, to boil water before using it.
“These bacteria can make you sick and are a particular concern for people with weakened immune systems,” says the NPS.
“Bacterial contamination can occur when increased runoff enters drinking water sources (for example, following heavy rain),” he said.
“It can also occur due to damage to the distribution system (pipes) or failure in the water treatment process.”
All water should be boiled for one minute per 1,000 feet of elevation to kill bacteria before using it for drinking, brushing teeth, washing dishes, making ice or cooking, the NPS advises.
Bottled water can also be used as an alternative.
Currently, no other area outside of Phantom Ranch has been found to have E.coli.
The National Park Service said in its announcement that it is taking steps to control the situation, including making “control system adjustments” and restarting the chlorination process. AFP via Getty Images
What is E.coli?
E.coli — officially known as Escherichia coli — is a type of bacteria found in the environment, food and intestines of humans and animals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Some strains can make people sick, with symptoms including but not limited to severe abdominal cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), vomiting, respiratory illness, urinary tract infections and pneumonia.
Symptoms usually start three to four days after eating or drinking something containing E.coli — but can start as soon as a day or up to 10 days later.
A laboratory technician holds a bacterial culture showing a positive infection of enterohemorrhagic E. coli, also known as EHEC bacteria, from a patient at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf on June 2, 2011 in Hamburg, Germany.Getty Images
While most people will recover on their own within five to seven days, some people develop severe illness that requires medical attention.
The CDC recommends seeing a health care provider for “diarrhea that lasts more than three days or diarrhea that is accompanied by a fever higher than 102˚F, bloody diarrhea, or vomiting that is so profuse that you cannot keep fluids down and you only pass a little urine.”
Although rare, some people with E. coli can develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can lead to kidney failure or other life-threatening complications, according to the CDC.
All water should be boiled for one minute per 1,000 feet of elevation to kill bacteria before using it for drinking, brushing teeth, washing dishes, making ice or cooking, the NPS advises. BSIP/Universal Images Group via
Symptoms of HUS include extreme fatigue, decreased urination and discoloration of the face and lower eyelids.
The National Park Service said in its announcement that it is taking steps to control the situation, including making “control system adjustments” and restarting the chlorination process.
“We are increasing sampling for coliform bacteria to determine the source of the contamination,” the announcement said.
“We will notify you when the test shows no bacteria, and you no longer need to boil your water.”
The public is encouraged to share advice with anyone in the area who may be exposed to this water.
For guidelines on reducing the risk of infection by microbes, the public can call the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
