Cyclists affected by Campylobacter during race
Back in March 2008 I wrote about an incident in a cycling competiton where a number of competitors contracted Campylobacter infections from taking part in a cycling race. Campylobacter Blog reported that
"Last June [2007], over a quarter of 800 bicyclists in a race in British Columbia became ill from what public health officials believe is one of the biggest reported outbreaks in this country of Campylobacter jejuni - a diarrhea-causing bacteria that is generally contracted through consumption of contaminated food or water.
But it wasn't the food or water the cyclists consumed that made them sick. No, it was the mud. June can be a rainy month in BC and the mud was so thick in places that bikers had to dismount and push their way through it."
The Telegraph reported yesterday that more that 660 people took part in the Builth Wells Mountain Biking Marathon in Powys in July. Eight cyclists fell ill with food poisoning after the event and tested positive for campylobacter. The cyclists are believed to have been infected as a result of eating food without washing their hands first. The National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHSW) launched an internet based questionnaire to investigate the outbreak and had 355 responses. 161 cyclists reported symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting. A report, by the NPHSW, concluded that
"the outbreak was caused by campylobacter spread to the cyclists by mud which was contaminated with sheep faeces. Heavy overnight rain is likely to have contributed to the outbreak by increasing the amount of liquid mud on the course. The report recommended cyclists to eat out of protective wrappers at future events".
Campylobacter is the biggest cause of food poisoning in the UK , to find out more check out the Bad Bug Book.
"Last June [2007], over a quarter of 800 bicyclists in a race in British Columbia became ill from what public health officials believe is one of the biggest reported outbreaks in this country of Campylobacter jejuni - a diarrhea-causing bacteria that is generally contracted through consumption of contaminated food or water.
But it wasn't the food or water the cyclists consumed that made them sick. No, it was the mud. June can be a rainy month in BC and the mud was so thick in places that bikers had to dismount and push their way through it."
The Telegraph reported yesterday that more that 660 people took part in the Builth Wells Mountain Biking Marathon in Powys in July. Eight cyclists fell ill with food poisoning after the event and tested positive for campylobacter. The cyclists are believed to have been infected as a result of eating food without washing their hands first. The National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHSW) launched an internet based questionnaire to investigate the outbreak and had 355 responses. 161 cyclists reported symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting. A report, by the NPHSW, concluded that
"the outbreak was caused by campylobacter spread to the cyclists by mud which was contaminated with sheep faeces. Heavy overnight rain is likely to have contributed to the outbreak by increasing the amount of liquid mud on the course. The report recommended cyclists to eat out of protective wrappers at future events".
Campylobacter is the biggest cause of food poisoning in the UK , to find out more check out the Bad Bug Book.
Comments