What does ‘illness’ refer to?
Illnesses related to contact with recreational waters were initially thought to be confined to gastrointestinal illness such as salmonellosis, Giardia and Campylobacter. These pathogens cause diarrhoea and sometimes vomiting associated with ‘tummy bug’ symptoms. Recent studies indicate that respiratory illnesses, such as those that cause cold and flu-like symptoms, can also result from swimming infaecalcontaminated water. Skin, eye and ear infections can also be caught through contact with marine and fresh waters. Illnesses related to toxic substances – such as heavy metals or PCBs – are not measurable with indicator bacteria and are not coveredby this monitoring programme.
