MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Antibiotic-proof bug detected in Rio's Olympic waters
Rio de Janeiro to host sailing Olympic Games in polluted waters. Scientists at the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz find enzyme-producing bacteria that requires bolder therapeutic measures. Flamengo beach unfit for swimming.
A stronger bacteria, far more resistant to conventional antibiotics, has been found in the waters where the sailing and windsurfing events of the upcoming 2016 Rio Summer Olympics are scheduled to take place. The results came out positive in three out of five samples taken from the Carioca River by specialists from the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, a leading public health research facility in Rio de Janeiro.
“The illnesses caused by these microorganisms are the same as those caused by common bacteria, but they require stronger antibiotics and, sometimes, can require hospitalization,” said Ana Paula D'Alincourt Carvalho Assef, a coordinator for the scientists conducting the studies.
The research team also reported the bacteria to be of the same kind usually found in hospitals and very difficult to treat, because it produces enzymes known as KPC that make the condition resistant to conventional medication.
The Carioca river runs from the Tijuca forest through the city of Rio de Janeiro to Flamengo Beach and onto Guanabara Bay. But the first point where the microorganism was detected was “after the river passes through areas with homes and hospitals,” a clue that seems to point to untreated sewage, given the fact that no bacteria was discovered at the headwaters.
“Since the super bacteria are resistant to the most modern medications, doctors need to rely on drugs that are rarely used because they are toxic to the organism,” added Assef in an email to the Associated Press newsagency.
Flamengo beach, contiguous to the Gloria Marina, is set to be the starting point for the Olympic sailing events. It has also been deemed particularly unfit for swimming in view of the high levels of fecal matter detected in the area. It would be as hazardous as ”diving in any polluted river,” according to Assef.
Individuals who come in contact with the bug may not necessarily fall ill, but may in turn become carriers and “take these resistant bacteria back to their own environments and to other people, resulting in a cycle of dissemination,” the email warned.
The organisers of Rio 2016 made no comments on the Institute’s findings.
Top Comments
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Read all commentsIt should have never have been given to Brazil. Unfortunately they are just not ready for an event on this scale.
Dec 16th, 2014 - 11:06 pm 0Shame.
I expect some countries may retire from certain competitions.
Looks like Brazil can only 'talk a good game'.
Sad really.
I think the best way forward is to set up a permanent 'Olympic' site in Greece. All participating countries could contribute a % based on their GDP of the previous 4 years for the upkeep.
This would bring much needed stable income to Greece, and none of these shennagians that we see all too often.
Pumping raw sewage directly into the sea and expecting athletes to risk their lives windsurfing through poo is a disgrace. Incidentally, this is the reason why there are so many shark attacks in Recife as they are attracted to the human excrement in the water
Dec 16th, 2014 - 11:42 pm 0“In Recife, only 35 percent of the sewage is treated, and nearby municipalities sometimes only treat six percent. The polluted waters appeal to sharks who are known to scavenge through trash for food.”
Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/345842/deadly-shark-attacks-in-brazil/#tjAmew1rxHD2Ha6z.99.
Secondly, Greece is in the mess it is in because paying tax in Greece for many years was a rather voluntary affair and they cooked the books to enter the Euro, which has been a monumental disaster for them. On top of that they have ignored the democratic will of their people, ousted their elected president and allowed the EU commission to implant their own stooge to run the country. Not the best reasons for everyone else to cough up for a perpetual hellenic subsidised olympic games!
@2
Dec 17th, 2014 - 12:12 am 0re: your first paragraph. Agreed.
re: 2nd. Yes, but my suggestion would keep world focus on Greece as other countries would wish to not only keep an eye on where their money was spent, but also put Greece under scrutiny in general.
They would be obliged to 'behave'. Cultural change will only come when the people recognise that their tax is going to be spent on them, not into corrupt politicions/officials pockets.
Cultural change will only come about with both external pressure and a forced internal clean-up.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant!
I believe my suggestion could be a 'win-win'.
Although it will take at least a generation. Considering that the majority of young educated Greeks flee to Germany/UK/the wider world, they are already seeing how this is possible.
Even those at home, what with modern technologly etc are realising how thing 'could be'.
There is hope yet.
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