Wild swimming linked to increased risk of illness

A large-scale controlled study conducted in Hungary has linked wild swimming in rivers and lakes to an increased risk of skin rashes and gastrointestinal illnesses. The research, involving 2,368 participants, found that swimmers were more than twice as likely to develop skin problems compared to those who remained on the shore.

The study specifically highlighted a significant link between stomach bugs and water containing higher concentrations of E. coli, which is associated with faecal pollution. These findings challenge recent World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines that moved away from using E. coli as a primary indicator for freshwater pollution, instead focusing on enterococci.

Professor Paul Hunter of the University of East Anglia, who co-authored the original 2003 guidelines, noted that the current research suggests enterococci are not as strongly associated with increased health risks as E. coli, contradicting the WHO’s recent shift in monitoring priorities.