In a statement, the eThekwini Municipality noted that Durban beaches have reopened this weekend following an E. coli scare.
Why were Durban beaches closed?
In the interest of public safety, the decision was made earlier this week to keep beachgoers away from a large section of the shoreline in Durban.
At the time, fishing, surfing and swimming were prohibited at these beaches situated on the northern coastline:
- North Beach
- Bay of Plenty
- South Beach
- Suncoast Beach
- Country Club Beach
- Umgeni Beach
According to the municipality, the closure was forced after “Umngeni river discharged a very abnormal murky waters to the beach.”
Tests were conducted on the water to determine if the murky substance was E. coli and on Thursday 6 January 2022, the City revealed “the water was murky because of hyacinths naturally found in water.”
“According to the results, water is free of any pollution that may pose threat to life,” the statement read.
How dangerous is E. coli exposure?
Exposure to E. coli, a type of bacteria that lives in the intestines of people and animals, is harmless, for the most part, but the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that exposure to pathogenic escherichia coli “can cause illness.”
Diarrhoea is the most common illness caused by E. coli contamination and, according to the Cleveland Clinic, this is the result of the bacteria “producing a toxin called Shiga.”
“This toxin damages the lining of your small intestine and causes your diarrhea,” the clinic writes.
Newborn and kids are at the greatest risk of falling ill, along with the elderly and people with weak immune systems.
