Amoeba and water parks

[cornflkgrl]

I just read something that says there was 137 cases from 1962 to 2015 and only 3 people survived, so it's more then the 40 cases that they are saying on some other site.

40 cases in the last 10 years.

 

[chicagodisfan]

I hadn't heard about this until I saw this thread. I just did a quick Google search and the article I read said that the NC park was one of only three such parks in the country where the water is not required to be regularly tested for pathogens because it is seen more like a river or "natural system." I would hope that Disney tests its water regularly to make sure all the chlorine levels, etc. are where they should be.

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

You'll be fine.

 

[AngiTN]

You should worry more about having an accident on the way to the water park than you should about the water at the water park

 

[AngiTN]

This thread reminds me of the lake by GF and Poly and those kids playing in the water....

Which is yet another reason you should STAY OUT OF THE LAKE WATER! as they have always said

 

[aretha30]

This is what I thought too, the water that is amoeba breeding is stagnant, like pond water.

This incident happened at the National Whitewater Center. They do white water rafting there with controlled rapids. The water wasn't stagnant.

I thought the water park in NC was a natural water recreation center meaning the water was the same stuff in the local river and untreated.

I live just outside of Charlotte. Our local news is reporting that the water was treated but the filtration system wasn't enough to kill the amoeba. They have suspended all the water activities at the National Whitewater Center until they can figure out how to get the amoeba out of the water.


I wouldn't worry about the water at the Disney water parks or pools they use treated chlorinated water.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

This same sucker is one of the alleged reasons they closed River Country - because it shared water from Bay Lake, and there was no way to filter / cut off the water supply without extreme renovations (basically rebuild the entire park). There was one (confirmed) case of it in River Country in 1980. Some rumors are this is one of the reasons it was closed (I discount that as it remained open for 21 years after that case).

In any case - the point is the amoeba is known to live in Bay Lake - or at least did at one point and I doubt Disney can / has treated the entire lake.

Note this is VERY different from the waters you will find at any resort pool, park ride or currently opened water parks at Disney which are all treated and filtered water.

OP - if you are really worried about it, education is the best counter. Here is the CDC page on the amoeba in question:
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/general.html

Read about it and you will see that you can get it from any source of infected water - not just lake water (even drinking water or a slip and slide) HOWEVER, it's very, very, very rare considering the number of infections and the number of people who drink, swim or use water every day.

 

[MeganMango]

I swam with the Dolphins at discovery cove last Saturday. 1) most amazing thing I've ever done.

2) I don't believe amoebas can live in saltwater. Which is what discovery cove uses.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Glad to know the water in the waterpark is clean... This thread reminds me of the lake by GF and Poly and those kids playing in the water....

And ignoring the No Swimming signs---

 

[kamik86]

Sounds like that park was one that just uses nearby water.

There is a park near me that has two types of water rides. One is a river rapid ride (like Kali) that uses the local river water. Its not in the water park your not in a swim suit and the water isn't treated.

The actual water park everyone changes into a swim suit then all the water is chlorinated.

The only water park attraction at disney I can think of where the water isn't chlorinating is the one with teh sharks... but that one uses salt water.

 

[minnie mum]

I just read something that says there was 137 cases from 1962 to 2015 and only 3 people survived, so it's more then the 40 cases that they are saying on some other site.

40 cases in 10 years, or 137 cases in 53 years. Compared to how many millions of swimmers in all of the affected areas in that time. That's miniscule odds. You're more likely to be struck by lightning while floating down the lazy river at TL. And how many of those cases were contracted at a WDW pool or water park? Only 1 that I know of. And that was at River Country which used the water from Bay Lake, and no longer exists.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

40 cases in 10 years, or 137 cases in 53 years. Compared to how many millions of swimmers in all of the affected areas in that time. That's miniscule odds. You're more likely to be struck by lightning while floating down the lazy river at TL. And how many of those cases were contracted at a WDW pool or water park? Only 1 that I know of. And that was at River Country which used the water from Bay Lake, and no longer exists.

Splitting hairs, but just to give you an idea - it's even more rare than that. There were actually 37 cases from 2006 to 2015. 3 were from using neppie pots with contaminated water (this is why they tell you to use distilled water and not tap water), 1 was a slip and slide in their backyard. The remaining 33 were recreational (swimming, watersking, etc).

As others have said, 137 total in 53 years - compared to the millions that swim every summer not to mention use sprinklers and backyard toys, neppie pots and other sources of possibly infected water.

The amoeba itself is somewhat more common - it just doesn't usually infect people.

 

[Shanti]

This incident happened at the National Whitewater Center. They do white water rafting there with controlled rapids. The water wasn't stagnant.



I live just outside of Charlotte. Our local news is reporting that the water was treated but the filtration system wasn't enough to kill the amoeba. They have suspended all the water activities at the National Whitewater Center until they can figure out how to get the amoeba out of the water.


I wouldn't worry about the water at the Disney water parks or pools they use treated chlorinated water.

I read about that. An article said that even if water is chlorinated and UV lights are also used, the amoeba can still survive if it's very murky (i.e. natural river) water. The chlorine is used up fighting all the dirt in river water, so it can't neutralize the amoeba.

Looks like avoiding this kind of activity in warm rivers & lakes would be wise.

Disney's water parks are not a problem as they are not dirty or murky, nor river or lake-sourced, but rather they use clear and chlorinated water.

 

[Pixie Dust ✨]

I swam with the Dolphins at discovery cove last Saturday. 1) most amazing thing I've ever done.

2) I don't believe amoebas can live in saltwater. Which is what discovery cove uses.

Naegleria can't. Vibrio vulnificus can. It's about as deadly & you have about the same (EXTREMELY LOW) chance of contracting it. I would worry about neither.

 

[ajwolfe]

Eh, why did I open this thread!! I have very little crazy things that bother me but for some reason this one always get me. LOL. Could be that my kids are water rats and love to be in it regardless if it is a water park, lake or river....I may have to invest in some nose plugs for our next tubing on the lake weekend.

 

[punkin]

Funny this should come up. My DD is on her way to Japan and last night we were googling the possibility of getting this from an onsen (has never happened, BTW) because DD is crazy.