Bacteria the cause of Ennell itch not parasite says council

Published: Wed 13 Aug 2014, 4:00 PM

A painful rash suffered by bathers who have been swimming in Lough Ennell is due to the presence of bacteria that caused last summer’s algal bloom, according to Westmeath County Council.

Last month, two midlands mothers on a day trip to the Mullingar area got a fright when their children came out in a rash while swimming in Lough Ennell.

They believed that their itch had been caused by a water-borne parasite.

However, in a statement issued to the Westmeath Examiner, the council, who monitor the water quality in the county’s lakes, say the cause of the rash is nothing more sinister than the bacteria, cyanobacteria, rather than the presence of a parasite, avian schistosomes.

“While the itch after swimming has been reported by bathers this year as in other years we are unaware of the presence of avian schistosomes in Lough Ennell. This parasite causes a self limiting cercarial dermatitis in humans.

“We believe that the itch is more likely to be caused by cyanobacteria. The presence of cyanobacteria results usually in a short lived irritation or allergy. This is not an unusual phenomenon in the Westmeath lakes. Cyanobacteria inhabit all natural waters and usually only become a problem when they increase to high concentrations, forming 'blooms’( as was the
case last year in Lough Ennell).

“It is not unusual however to have reports of an itch after swimming when Cyanobacteria levels are low. Following reports of itch this year, the area is being monitored and the results to date indicate that where cyanobacteria were detected the levels are well below that which triggers a public alert.

“It should be noted that bathing suits and particularly wet suits tend to aggravate such effects by accumulating cyanobacterial material and enhancing disruption of cells and liberation of cell content. Cyanobacteria may also accumulate in the collar and cuff areas of wetsuits and rub against the skin. This may cause a strong skin reaction in these areas,” the council statement concluded.