RIO DE JANEIRO — Experts have warned athletes of the health hazards of going into the waters at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
The New York Times reports that the waters in Rio de Janeiro are more contaminated than ever, despite trash collection efforts and eco-barriers to stop garbage from flowing into Guanabara Bay.
Recent tests show numerous pathogens in the waters, from rotaviruses that cause vomiting and diarrhea, to super bacteria that are drug-resistant and may be fatal to those with weak immune systems.
Athletes set to compete in watersports like windsurfing, sailing, and marathon swimming will do so some distance away from the bay’s most polluted areas. Nevertheless, they have been advised to keep their mouths closed when in the water.
Brazilian officials have yet to address the main cause of the pollution as raw sewage from the region’s inhabitants continue to flow into the waters untreated.
