Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health unit has issued
a health warning after high levels of faecal bacteria were
found in consecutive samples taken from Lake Aviemore (Mahi
Tikumu) at Waitangi and at Te Akatarawa.
Dr Matthew
Reid, Medical Officer of Health for Te Mana Ora, National
Public Health Service Te Whatu Ora, says “Water quality at
affected sites is not considered suitable for recreational
uses including swimming because of the risk to health from
the bacteria and other pathogens.”
If fish are
eaten, remove the gut and liver and wash in clean water
before cooking. For further information on gathering Mahinga
Kai refer to information below.
Water contaminated by
human or animal faecal matter may contain a range of
disease-causing micro-organisms such as viruses, bacteria
and protozoa.
“In most cases the ill-health effects
from exposure to contaminated water are minor and
short-lived. However, there is the potential for more
serious diseases, such as Hepatitis A or Salmonella
infection,” Dr Reid says.
The sites where water
quality is affected are listed on Environment Canterbury’s
website, he says.
Monitoring of the sites will
continue and the public will be advised when the sites are
safe for recreational
use.
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