SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. -- Health officials are warning that some people who spent Memorial Day weekend at Lake Anna have been diagnosed with E. coli infections.
Officials with the Virginia Department of Health said Thursday that they began investigating the cluster of gastrointestinal illnesses after receiving "numerous reports of GI illness, mainly in children, with similar symptoms."
Those symptoms most often include stomach cramps and potentially watery or bloody diarrhea, but can also encompass vomiting, fever and chills.
Some hospitalizations have been reported, officials said.
"All potential causes of illness, including lake water and food exposures, are being investigated," officials wrote. "While all the ill people confirm swimming or other water exposures in Lake Anna, VDH does not have enough information, at this time, to confirm that exposure to the lake, or any specific portion of the lake, is the cause of the illnesses."
Officials said that water testing in the lake is underway but that they do not believe the illnesses are linked to a harmful algae bloom.
Rappahannock Health District Health Director Dr. Olugbenga O. Obasanjo said officials will "likely continue to learn about the situation in the coming days” and that their investigation remains ongoing.
As a result, the health department does not have enough information to support a swimming advisory. But officials did urge caution when swimming.
“As we head to pools, lakes, and beaches to enjoy the warmer weather and spend time with our families, it is important to remember to take precautions to prevent illness,” Dr. Obasanjo said. “Showering before and after swimming, washing your hands before eating, and being sure not to drink the lake water are some of the ways to stay healthy this summer. It is also important not to swim if you have diarrhea. Children may need extra monitoring and reminders to follow these precautions.”
To prevent illness when swimming and boating in natural waters, VDH officials said people should:
- Never drink untreated water, and don’t swim if skin has cuts or open wounds. Natural waters such as rivers, lakes, and oceans contain germs and contaminants, which can cause illness.
- Wash their hands after using the bathroom and before preparing and eating food.
- Avoid swimming near storm drains (pipes that drain polluted water from streets) along into natural waters.
- Avoid swimming if they are vomiting or have diarrhea.
- Not go in water if there is a green film on the water and keep pets out as well. This film may indicate an algal bloom and some algae produce toxins that can make people sick.
- Shower or bathe after swimming to wash off possible germs and contaminants.
- Avoid swimming for three days after a heavy rain. Germs can come from overflowing sewage, polluted storm water & runoff from land.
- Properly dispose of human waste by discharging boat sewage at marinas with a pump-out unit or dump station.
Anyone who was in the Lake Anna area and experienced a gastrointestinal illness is urged to call your local health department and see their doctor if they are still sick.
Visit SwimHealthyVA.com for more information.
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