Youngster in hospital after swim at Ladies Pond

Jun 12 2009 by Iain Howie, Stirling Observer Friday

A YOUNG person is being treated in hospital after contracting a rare water-borne disease after swimming at a popular picnic area in Bridge of Allan.

NHS Forth Valley said the victim is expected to make a full recovery.

The youngster tested positive for Leptospirosis, a quite rare water-borne infection linked with animal urine, which can cause flu-like symptoms.

Another was found to have Campylobacter bacteria, which causes sickness and diarrhoea.

They had been swimming at an area known as the Ladies Pool.

As we reported last Friday 20 youngsters who attend Wallace High School fell ill after swimming there on Monday last week.

An advisory notice warning against swimming or paddling in the Ladies Pool or the Allan Water has been put in place by Stirling Council’s environmental health department.

Investigate

Stirling Council, NHS Forth Valley and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency teamed up to investigate its cause and scientists from SEPA visited the site on Thursday last week.

NHS Forth Valley has now said that organisms in the water were to blame.

A spokesman for NHS Forth Valley said: “Following testing of swimmers who used Ladies Pool and the surrounding river last week, two organisms have been detected in pupils of Wallace High School.

“One person has the Campylobacter bacteria. This causes sickness and diahorrea which tends to clear up after a few days.

“The other individual has tested positive for Leptospirosis and has been admitted to Stirling Royal Infirmary.”

On Friday Stirling Council environmental health put a public safety notice at the Ladies Pool, warning people not to swim in the water.

It said: “This river contains discharges from sewerage outfalls. Tests have consistently found the quality of the water to fail bathing water quality standards.

“As the level of contamination varies with demand and weather, there can be no guarantee as to the safety of bathing in any part of this river.”