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U.S. GOVERNMENT 1: CDC Swimming Pool Report

If you're like millions of Americans, swimming is one of your favorite ways to exercise. It is also considered a very healthy activity. But did you know that swimming in a dirty pool can actually make you sick? The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is reporting an increase in the number of Americans who have become ill after swimming or bathing in contaminated pools and spas.

Two types of illness that can be caught in an unclean pool are diarrhea and skin infections. These are often caused by bacteria or parasites which are resistant to chlorine. The severity of illness can range from those who don't even feel ill to those who require hospitalization. Between January 2001 and December 2002, the CDC recorded a total of 2,536 swimmers who contracted water-borne diseases. The numbers represent a 21 percent increase in pool-related illness compared to the previous two years.

The CDC named several factors contributing to the higher numbers. Among them are poor pool and spa maintenance, watershed contamination, and the tendency of some people to swim even if they are sick. Babies who are still in diapers are also a frequent source of contamination.

Should you worry about going for a swim? Not if you are in good health. Those who are most at risk of getting ill are pregnant women, very young children, and people who have a weakened immune system. The most serious consequence is dehydration, which can occur if too much water is lost from the body after severe and prolonged diarrhea.

The CDC suggests that outbreaks of illness could be limited by improving public awareness of why it is important that we not go swimming in a public pool if we are sick. They also recommend that public pools adopt policies requiring bathroom breaks and separate water filtration systems for "kiddie" pools.

--Written by Patricia Daniels

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