The health department of the Mecklenburg Lake District district has issued a warning against so-called cercariae. The flukes spread mainly in the shallow warm water of bathing lakes. Their larvae can cause skin irritation, including fever and shock.
The summer weather currently invites you to swim in many places. But as the temperatures rise, so do the water temperatures. The health department therefore warns against bathing in shallow waters, as cercariae can develop more often from a water temperature of 23 degrees.
Redness of the skin, wheals and even shock
Cercaries, also known as fork-tailed larvae, are the larvae of small flukes. These can cause so-called bathing dermatitis in people, which manifests itself as an uncomfortably itchy rash, reddened skin and wheals. The course and intensity of the rash vary from person to person. Hypersensitized people may under certain circumstances develop fever and shock.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: water temperatures over 22 degrees
Usually waterfowl are the final host of the cercariae. However, they only react as the characteristic “warm-blooded animals” – and thus inadvertently also attack the human skin. However, this cannot be penetrated, so that the larvae get stuck in the surface of the skin and die after a short time. The human being is a so-called “false host” because he is unsuitable for the further development of the cercaria. By the way, swallowing cercaria is harmless – the path of infection is only through the skin. Since cercaria get into the water through duck droppings, the health department advises against feeding ducks at bathing areas
So far, no cases have been reported, the bathing waters are continuously monitored. Nevertheless, it is only a matter of time before the first bathers come into contact with the larvae. Many lakes, such as the Schweriner See and the Müritz, already have water temperatures of 22 degrees or more. Given the predicted rise in temperatures, water temperatures will continue to rise as well. July and August are the main swarming season for worms.
Precautionary tips
Health department hygienists advise avoiding shallow water areas with water temperatures above 23 degrees. In addition, bathing suits should be taken off immediately after leaving the water and the body should be dried thoroughly. Sunscreen is supposed to provide additional protection. If you notice skin irritation after swimming, you should consult a dermatologist to treat the itching and thus prevent possible infections by scratching.
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See in the video: Together with her two children, mother Shelly Michalski examines how the hygiene measures in the thermal bath work. Hygiene expert Walter Popp assesses whether we expose ourselves to a greater risk of infection when bathing.
