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Waterborne Diseases

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It’s time to swim!! This year Recreational Water Illness and Injury Prevention Week (RWIIW) will be May 20th – 26th 2013 and ADHS is holding a healthy swimming video contest for children to educate other swimmers about the simple steps everyone can take to ensure a healthy swimming experience this year!

Water is essential for life on earth. While America has some of the best disease prevention programs and some of the cleanest water sources, every year thousands of people acquire waterborne illnesses. Waterborne diseases are caused by ingesting or coming into contact with and infected or contaminated water source. While anybody can acquire waterborne illnesses, people with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk of contracting a more severe form of any waterborne disease.

Proper hygiene is one way of drastically reducing the chances of acquiring or spreading waterborne illnesses. In terms of treatment, most people recover from waterborne diseases on their own and only require supportive care. Some people may require antibiotics or other treatment depending on the type of pathogen or contaminant in the water and their ability to fight infections.

For more information, educational resources and fact sheets to help educate your family or community, please visit our Education and Resources page.