Oklahoma River Cause of Triathletes' Illness

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY - Contaminated water in the Oklahoma River has been identified as the source of the illness infecting participants in a recent Oklahoma City triathlon.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health announced Wednesday that an investigation in the illness revealed that the common element was exposure to the water.

After participating in the Boathouse International Triathlon May 16-17, at least 45 triathletes showed symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

"What we found was that those individuals who swallowed more than an ounce of water more likely developed illness, as well as people who spent more time in the river," said Laurence Burnsed of the Department of Health.

The river has tested high for bacteria and parasites, particularly after high runoff from storms, which could have contained human or animal waste.

"There was a reference I think, where officials may have been considering the amount of rainfall prior to the event and how that might have affected bacterial counts in the water," Burnsed said.

Debbie Ragan, a spokeswoman for Oklahoma City's utilities department, has said water samples taken on May 15 near the swim course showed an E. coli count of 573 per 100 milliliters of water. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board said standards for "primary body contact recreation," in which there is a chance water could be ingested, is a 126 count for E. coli.

City officials tested the water for months prior to the event, but even with that procedure in place, the city had no way of knowing the contamination was so high.

"The levels of bacteria in the river fluctuate as the rain falls and as the sun comes out," said City of Oklahoma City spokeswoman Kristy Yager. "It's different day to day."

What's more is that the contaminated runoff may have happened outside of the city's jurisdiction of monitoring, but the city will continue to keep close tabs on the river.

"We've been monitoring the river for a few months," Yager said. "We'll continue to monitor the river even more aggressively now."

The river, formerly a ditch that handled runoff, has been transformed in recent years into a prime venue for rowing events, but this was the first time a triathlon had been held there.

More on News9.com: About 20 Triathletes Sickened After Swimming in Oklahoma River